5 Most Powerful CEOs of India

Bangalore: India is the powerhouse of some of the leading names in the business world. Names like Reliance, Tata, Aditya Birla, Wipro and many more such names that have a great impact on the world business, have their roots engraved in India.

The CEOs of these companies has played the most crucial role in upbringing their brand names to the global market. From bearing all the rocks to tasting success, from taking crucial decisions to managing the company, these CEOs has been the most effective and the powerful too. ‘The Economic Times’ has listed 10 most powerful CEOs in India during 2012.

1. Ratan Naval Tata

Rank: 1, Age: 75, Chairman, Tata Sons

Ratan Tata started his career with Tata Steel and took official retirement from Tata groups as CEO in December, 2012.

Tata, who says, ‘I don't believe in taking right decisions. I take decisions and then make them right’ has been the best role model for everyone. His dedication and true leadership took the entire Tata group to the peak of success.

After graduating, he was offered a job in IBM. He decided not to join IBM and entered into the family business. Today, Tata has become one of the popular household names in India and a very prominent name in the International Business.

2. Mukesh D. Ambani

Rank: 2, Age: 55, Chairman & Managing Director, Reliance Industries

The senior Ambani brother is the richest Indian at present. His company RIL operates on petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles and retails.

Ambani’s RIL is the largest Indian private sector and his ‘Mumbai Indians’ has been declared as the second largest sports club in the world.

He completed his BE in Chemical Engineering from University of Mumbai and joined Stanford University. However, after one year, he returned back to India to help his father in the family business.

3. Kumar Mangalam Birla

Rank: 3, Age: 43, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group

After the sudden loss of his father in 1995, he became the Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group. He became the youngest Indian to lead a billion dollar company.

Aditya Birla group has hands over almost every sector; retail, financial, tele-communication, insulators, cement, fertilizers and many more.

He completed BCom from ‘HR College of Commerce & Economics’, Mumbai. After graduation, he joined London Business School and completed his MBA.  

Under his leadership, Aditya Birla group became the third largest business group in India.

4. Azim Hashim Premji

Rank: 4, Age: 67, Chairman, Wipro

Azim Premji is a Stanford dropout. The sudden death of his father forced him to return to India and take care of Wipro. During those days, Wipro was a consumer product company.

Today, Wipro is one of the largest IT companies in India and has an equivalent reputation globally. It is also the second-largest hydraulic cylinder company in the world.

He is also one of the most powerful members in the India Inc. He was awarded with ‘Padma Vibhushan’ in 2011.

5. Chanda Kochhar

Rank: 5, Age: 51, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, ICICI Bank

Born on November 17, 1961 on Jaipur (Rajasthan), Chanda Kochhar did her schooling in Jaipur. She completed her graduation in 1982 in Arts from ‘Jai Hind College’ in Mumbai. After graduation, she completed her masters in Management studies from Jamanlal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies.

She is currently the CEO and the Managing Director of India’s largest private bank, ICICI Bank. She is one of the leading leaders in India Inc.

She has been awarded Padma Bhushan in 2010 for her glorious work in the banking sector. She is considered as one of the most powerful women around the globe.