Mumbai: Billionaire Mukesh Ambani, 65 at the 45th annual general meeting (AGM) of Reliance Industries (RIL) hinted at succession planning at India’s largest firm, which he served as chairman for over two decades and has been associated for 45 years and personally attended all the AGMs.
Ambani identified his youngest son Anant to lead the new energy businesses, in which the company plans to spend Rs 75,000 in the next few years.
Last quarter, Mukesh Ambani step down from the board of Reliance Jio and his elder son Akash Ambani took over as the chairman of Reliance Jio.
“Our next-gen leaders are confidently taking over the reins across businesses. Akash and Isha have assumed leadership roles in Jio and Retail respectively. They have been passionately involved in our consumer businesses since inception. Anant has also joined our New Energy business with great zeal. In fact, he is spending most of his time in Jamnagar. All three have fully inherited our founder's Mindset,” said Ambani.
Akash’s twin sister Isha, a director at Reliance Retail is likely to be elevated to the chairperson role, and Anant, director at new energy business is also likely to follow the suit, according to Reliance sources.
Isha Ambani is married to Anand Piramal, son of Piramal Enterprises Chairman Ajay Piramal.
Akash, Isha, and Anant are being mentored on a daily basis by senior leaders, including Mukesh Ambani and the company’s board.
According to Mukesh, Akash, Isha, and Anant are First Among Equals in a young team of leaders and professionals who are already doing amazing things at Reliance.
“I feel supremely confident that tomorrow's Reliance will have a better army of leaders, as should happen in any dynamic organisation that empowers its young leaders. Together, they will script newer and more exciting chapters in Reliance's never-ending book of achievements. I now call upon you to extend your blessings and best wishes to all the hundreds of young leaders of Reliance, including Isha, Akash, and Anant,” said Ambani at the AGM.
Senior Ambani recounted how Reliance began its journey as a listed company 45 years ago with a single-room office with just two small tables and a shared landline phone in a crowded marketplace in old Mumbai.
“But our founder, Dhirubhai Ambani, had a mighty big vision and a soaring ambition, and also an indomitable willpower to translate his vision into action, surmounting the stiffest of obstacles that came his way. Today, Reliance has grown into one of the world's largest and most valuable business enterprises,” said Ambani.