Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla
Chairman, The Aditya Birla Group

Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla is the Chairman of the US$ 29 billion Aditya Birla Group, a global conglomerate with operations spanning 25 countries. An iconic figure, Mr. Birla holds several key positions on various regulatory and professional boards. He is a Director of the Central Board of Directors of the Reserve Bank of India and Chairman of the Staff Sub-Committee of the Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India. He serves on the Prime Minister of India's Advisory Council on Trade and Industry.

He was the Chairman of the Board of Trade constituted by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, and also Chairman of the Ministry of Company Affairs' Advisory Committee.

He served as the Chairman of Securities and Exchange Board of India's (SEBI) Committee on Corporate Governance, and as Chairman of SEBI's Committee on Insider Trading. He has authored the nation's First Report on Corporate Governance.

Mr. Birla is on the National Council of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the Apex Advisory Council of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India, New Delhi, and the Advisory Council for the Centre for Corporate Governance.

On the academic front, Mr. Birla is the Chancellor of BITS, Pilani, Hyderabad, Goa and Dubai. He is a Director of the G. D. Birla Medical Research and Education foundation. He is on the Asian Regional Advisory Board of London Business School. He has been inducted on The Economic Times Corporate Advisory Board.

In recognition of his exemplary contribution, The Banaras Hindu University awarded the D. Litt (Honoris Causa) Degree to him. The Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) was bestowed on Mr. Birla for his invaluable contribution in the field of business administration by the G. D. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar. "For the development of technology and also for involvement in the field of industries in bringing up the country at par with other countries" the SRM University in Tamil Nadu conferred the Degree of Doctor of Literature on Mr. Birla.

The All India Management Association (AIMA) has bestowed the AIMA Managing India Awards 2010 "Business Leader of the Year" on Mr. Birla. Amongst earlier accolades conferred on Mr. Birla, feature Bombay Management Association's "Entrepreneur of the Decade Award – 2009", the AIMA – "JRD Tata Corporate Leadership Award – 2008", "The Corporate Role Model Award – 2008" by Amity International Business School, the Asia Pacific Global HR Excellence – "Exemplary Leader" Award, and NDTV's "Global Indian Leader of the Year" and "The Most Socially Responsible Leader" by Outlook business magazine in 2007. Earlier, The Lakshmipat Singhania – IIM, Lucknow National Leadership Award – 2006, Business Leader, was conferred on Mr. Birla by our Prime Minister.

Mr. Birla also has been named the World Economic Forum's "Young Global Leader", "The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, The Economic Times"Business Leader of the Year", Business India's "Businessman of the Year", Business Today's "Young Super Performer in the CEO Category", NITIE's "Business Visionary", and the Bombay Management Association's "The Management Man of the Year".

To "salute his entrepreneurial excellence and exemplary contribution to Indian business", AIMA conferred its "Honorary Fellowship" on him, and the National HRD Network named him "The Outstanding Businessman of the Year".

A chartered accountant, Mr. Birla earned an MBA from London Business School, where he is also an Honorary Fellow. Mr. Birla and his wife, Mrs. Neerja Birla, have three children, Ananyashree, Aryaman Vikram and Advaitesha.