Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, January 2026 – Ajit Rajagopalan has assumed expanded responsibilities as Chief Executive Officer, now overseeing both the Cellulosic Fashion Yarn and Insulators Business divisions of the Aditya Birla Group. This elevation represents an internal progression, leveraging his deep organizational knowledge and proven leadership within the Group. Grasim’s Fashion Yarn Business (Viscose Filament Yarn) is the largest VFY manufacturer in India with a legacy spanning more than six decades, and this strategic move underscores the Group’s confidence in his ability to steer multi-business growth.
Ajit Rajagopalan brings nearly two decades of experience within the Aditya Birla Group, having joined in 2007. A Computer Engineer by training and a Postgraduate in Management from IIM Ahmedabad, he has consistently delivered strong business outcomes across diverse geographies and functions. His appointment is expected to strengthen operational synergies and accelerate value creation across the two critical businesses.
In his current responsibilities, Ajit Rajagopalan has been serving as Chief Executive Officer at Aditya Birla Power Composites Limited and Aditya Birla Insulators for the past several years, leading operations from Gujarat and Maharashtra. His tenure has been marked by a focus on manufacturing excellence, technology adoption, and sustainable growth strategies across the power and composites portfolio.
Prior to this, he spent over nine years with Birla Carbon, where he held multiple leadership positions including Director – Birla Carbon India, Unit Head – Birla Carbon India, and Head of Manufacturing. He also led international assignments as Unit Head – Birla Carbon Thailand and Vice President – Business Development (China), gaining extensive global exposure in manufacturing, strategy, and market development.
Earlier in his journey with the Aditya Birla Group, Ajit served as Principal Executive Assistant to the Chairman, a role that provided him with a strong strategic foundation and exposure to enterprise-wide leadership priorities. Before joining the Group, he held leadership and consulting roles with Tata Strategic Management Group, Keystone India, Samira Constructions, and began his professional career with Reliance Industries Ltd. as an engineer.
Ajit Rajagopalan holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (1995–1997) and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from Savitribai Phule Pune University (1989–1993).
About Aditya Birla Group
Aditya Birla Group, with a legacy of over 165 years, is a US$65 billion global conglomerate operating in more than 41 countries with a market capitalization exceeding US$100 billion. The Group is a global leader in industries such as aluminium rolling, viscose staple fibre, carbon black, cement, financial services, fashion, hospitality, jewellery, and entertainment. In 2024, the Group expanded into branded retail jewellery with Indriya, launched Birla Opus in the paints sector across 300 towns, entered premium casual dining, and strengthened its B2B e-commerce platform Birla Pivot. Through its social initiatives, the Group impacts 11 million people annually across 9,000 villages, reinforcing its philosophy of being A Force for Good.
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