C. K. Birla

Chandra Kant Birla (born 1955) is an Indian industrialist and philanthropist, currently serving as the chairman of the CK Birla Group, a conglomerate with interests in home and building products, automotive, technology, and healthcare and education.

On the Hurun India Rich List 2022, he and his family were ranked as the 681st richest Indians with a net worth of ₹2,000 crores.

Early life

He completed his schooling at La Martiniere for Boys, Calcutta, and later he graduated with a degree in economics from St. Xavier's College, Kolkata. He is the son of industrialist Ganga Prasad Birla and the grandson of Braj Mohan Birla. He gained business expertise under the guidance of his grandfather, B. M. Birla, regarding him as his mentor.

Career

C. K. Birla currently holds the position of chairman within the CK Birla Group, overseeing its diversified operations across three primary industry segments: technology, automotive, home and building products, as well as healthcare and education. The group reported a revenue of $2.4 billion in the fiscal year 2021.

In addition to his role as the chairman of the CK Birla Group, he also serves as the chairman for various companies under the group umbrella. These include AVTEC, a manufacturer of auto parts, HIL Limited, a producer of building materials, Neosym, a metal manufacturing entity, Orient Cement, National Engineering Industries Limited (manufacturer of NBC Bearings), Orient Electric, and Orient Paper & Industries. He serves on the board of directors at Birlasoft.

He also serves as a member of the board of directors of the Commonwealth Business Council, chairman of the board of governors of the Birla Institute of Technology, Ranchi, and serves as a trustee of The Calcutta Medical Research Institute. Birla is a member of the National Committee of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). He was also the chairman of the board of governors at the Indian Institute of Management, Udaipur.

C. K. Birla served on the board of Century Textile and Industries through his shareholding at Pilani Investment and Industries Corporation, a Birla family holding company.

He held various positions at Hindustan Motors (HM), the manufacturer of India's well-known Ambassador car, a company founded by his grandfather. He was appointed as the chairman of HM in November 1997. He resigned from the chairmanship and directorship of Hindustan Motors in December 2013.

Philanthropy

Under his direction, his organization, the CK Birla Group has involved itself in philanthropic activities across science and technology, art and culture, and heritage preservation. The group also works to improve the livelihoods of rural and underprivileged communities in India.

In healthcare and education, their major initiatives comprise the B.M. Birla Heart Research Centre in Kolkata, Calcutta Medical Research Institute, a hospital in Kolkata, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra in Ranchi, Modern High School for Girls in Kolkata, and the Rukmani Birla Modern High School in Jaipur.

He oversees the G. P. Birla Archaeological Astronomical and Scientific Research Institute (GPBAASRI), BM Birla Science Centre, and Space Museum in Hyderabad.

In April 2020, CK Birla, his wife Amita Birla, and the CK Birla Group jointly committed a sum of ₹35 crores to support the government's efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic. Of this, ₹25 crores were directed to the PM CARES Fund, with the remaining funds allocated to state government initiatives for the procurement of equipment.

Personal life

In 1975, C. K. Birla married Amita Birla, the daughter of Lord Raj Kumar Bagri, a co-founder of the London-based London Metal Exchange and his wife Usha Maheshwary. Amita is the co-chairman of the CK Birla Group, chairman of Birlasoft, and serves on the boards of Orient Cement and Neosym. The couple has two daughters, named Avani and Avanti.

Recognition

The World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, honored C.K. Birla as a Global Leader for Tomorrow, recognizing him among a select group of industrialists. The Rajasthan Foundation, under the Government of Rajasthan, has listed him among the "Legends of Rajasthan" in the business category.

See also

• CK Birla Group
• Birla family

References