Mukesh Ambani, Reliance Group, CMD

Early Life

Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani is the eldest child of a close-knit Gujarati Baniya family. His early memories of his father, Dhirubhai Ambani, include him being a busy man and yet making arrangements for the children to have all-round development. Sundays were always family days to be spent with parents and siblings. Once Mukesh Ambani was in high school he would spend long hours in the office on weekends to gain insight into the passion for business and entrepreneurship that his father shared with him from an early time.

Education

Since Mukesh Ambani and his siblings had the liberty to make their own academic decisions, he chose to pursue science and eventually chemical engineering while everyone expected him to do textile engineering. Initially he joined IIT, Bombay but since the inter-science results came in later he left and joined the University Department of Chemical Technology along with his friends. In order to further prove himself he applied to the top business schools and got through 2-3, of which he chose Stanford. With Stanford he had plans to join the World Bank’s Young Professional Programme, however he dropped out to help his father with the polyester plant in 1981.

Career Graph

Even while pursuing his studies as a chemical engineer Mukesh Ambani began almost full time work for Reliance. In 1981 he joined formally and fast became a part and reason for progress. He was the brain behind Reliance’s backward integration from textiles into polyester fibres and further into petrochemicals. He then led the creation of 51 new, world-class manufacturing facilities encompassing diverse technologies that increased Reliance's manufacturing capacities manifold. He also conceptualized the world's largest grassroots petroleum refinery at Jamnagar. Dhirubhai's dream project Reliance Infocomm was also entrusted to Mukesh Ambani that later went to his brother Anil Ambani. His next step is to enter the retail sector in a big way with retail stores all over the country.


Vision/Quotes

On his choice of Chemical engineering as opposed to textiles he quotes a line from the movie The Graduate that left a mark on his mind, “There’s a great future in plastics”, as it represented what his father always believed in: investing in businesses of the future and investing in talent.

On being asked if he would prefer to be local or global his response is very clear that he aims at changing the lives of people and has ambitions are only for India.

His views on his ambitions for Reliance are that his focus is on value generation and scaling up to a pick and not simply increasing size.

Achievements

Chosen the businessman of the year 2007 by a public poll in India conducted by NDTV.

Conferred the United States-India Business Council (USIBC) leadership award for "Global Vision" 2007 in Washington.

Ranked 42nd among the ''World's Most Respected Business Leaders'' and second among the four Indian CEOs featured in a survey conducted by Pricewaterhouse Coopers and published in Financial Times, London, November 2004.

Conferred the World Communication Award for the ''Most Influential Person in Telecommunications in 2004'' by Total Telecom, October, 2004.

Chosen ''Telecom Man of the Year 2004'' by Voice and Data magazine, September 2004.

Ranked 13th in Asia's Power 25 list of ''The Most Powerful
Awarded the "Chitralekha Person of the Year Award -- 2007" by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Former Chairman of IIM-B

Honorary Fellow of IChemE (the Institution of Chemical Engineers)

Conferred the Penn Engineering Dean’s Medal for application of engineering and technology in January 2010

Elected on board by the Foundation Board of the World Economics

Awarded the prestigious Asia Society's Global Vision Award' 2010, by the Asia Society

The Breakthrough Indian Entrepreneur

Mukesh Ambani is regarded as the most dynamic entrepreneurs of India. Having spearheaded a company that has transformed the dynamics of Indian business, Mukesh Ambani is undoubtedly a business leader to seek motivation from.

From a humble beginning to creating an empire worthy of Forbes 500 listing, Mukesh Ambani’s entrepreneurial journey is one of inspiration. Today, Reliance Industries boasts of world’s largest grassroots refining complex, one of India’s largest retail networks, a promising communication technology at work, multifunction SEZ structures and an energy enterprise that ranks high with the world majors.

Mukesh Ambani strives to generate value though all his processes and it is this ontogeny that reflects the drive and commitment Mukesh Ambani puts into force. Regarded as the face of emerging India, Mukesh Ambani is the prospect of future growth and development of India.

Personification of Leadership

Leadership and Mukesh Ambani are synonymous references. Mukesh Ambani dons the leadership hat so enigmatically, that it never fails to invoke a sense of inspiration and motivation in others. Having spear-headed a company that is India’s largest and one of world’s finest, Mukesh Ambani transpires as the definitive modern day leader.

Mukesh Ambani has led Reliance Industries Limited, his flagship, to overwhelming heights by leading his enterprise and its members to working inclusively and comprehensively. He believes that it is through guided leadership of dynamic entrepreneurs that businesses can prosper and promulgate future leaders.

Mukesh Ambani’s leadership roles have been effervescent and profound in absoluteness, and for this he has been awarded with titles such as 'Asia Society Leadership Award' by the Asia Society, Washington D.C., USA, in May, 2004; ranked 42nd among the 'World's Most Respected Business Leaders', 'ET Business Leader of the Year 2006' and many more.

Mukesh Ambani strikes big gas deal with BP

Mukesh Ambani struck a deal with BP that will see the British energy giant pump at least $7.2 billion into gas projects developed by his Reliance Industries in one of the country's largest foreign investments.

Mukesh Ambani expects Indian economy to reach $5 trillion

Chairman of India's leading conglomerate, Reliance Industries, Mukesh Ambani is highly optimistic about economic growth in India. In a recent conference, he gave his opinion about the future and Indian economy and said Indian economy would reach a whooping $5 trillion mark by 2022-2025.

Source: http://www.topnews.in/mukesh-ambani-expects-indian-economy-reach-5-trillion-2317044

Mukesh Ambani receives Global Vision Award

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani has received the Global Vision Award instituted by the Asia Society for helping to promote understanding between Asians and Americans.

Source: http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-11-17/news/27593684_1_mukesh-ambani-global-vision-award-reliance-industries-chairman

Mukesh Ambani elected to World Economic Forum Foundation Board

The Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum has elected Reliance Industries’ Chairman and Managing Director, Mukesh Ambani, to its Board.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/business/article598084.ece

Mukesh Ambani named in UN DevelopmentGroup

Mukesh Ambani has been named by the United Nations to a key advocacy group on Millennium Development Goals, whose mandate includes finding ways to fight socio-economic evils such as poverty.

Ambani is the only Indian to be a part of the MDG Advocacy Group that comprises eminent international personalities including Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, philanthropist Ted Turner and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, among others.

Source: http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-07-18/news/27612913_1_sustainable-development-mukesh-ambani-millennium-development-goals

Mukesh Ambani and Azim Premji in team accompanying PM to Saudi

Heads of private and PSU refiners, including Mukesh Ambani of RIL and Essar's Shashi Ruia, and IT poster boys Azim Premji and S Ramadorai figure in the business delegation accompanying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his maiden visit to Saudi Arabia next week.

Oil cartel OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia is India's largest crude oil supplier. The presence of heads of Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum, along with Ambani's and Ruia's, was to emphasize the importance New Delhi places on the Gulf nation for its energy needs, official sources said.

Arguably the most powerful, the delegation would explore strategic relations with the oil rich nation during Singh's two-day visit from February 27. A contract to set up a USD 750-million joint investment fund will be signed during the visit. Saudi Arabia will contribute USD 500 million.

Mukesh Ambani, Laxmi Mittal on Forbes Power List

Two Indians, energy mogul Mukesh Ambani and steel czar Lakshmi Mittal, have made it to the Forbes list of 'World's Most Powerful Billionaires' combining massive fortunes with political clout.

"Through his industrial might, Mukesh Ambani, ranks eighth," in the US business magazine's annual list topped by Michael Bloomberg, mayor of New York City. Mittal ranks 13th on the list.

Bloomberg also "lords over the media, finance and fashion capital of the US and arguably the world".

"Mukesh Ambani controls oil and gas conglomerate Reliance Industries. With a market value of more than $73 billion, the firm is India's biggest independent company."

Compatriot Lakshmi Mittal - India's second wealthiest with a net worth of $30 billion - heads ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel maker, and ranks 13th on the list. The steel giant operates in 60 countries and has market value of $65 billion.

Mukesh Ambani, Forbes noted, has grown his section of the business inherited from father Dhirubhai's massive industrial empire with brother Anil in 2002. Anil leads banking and telecom companies while Mukesh controls energy entities. Reliance Industries Ltd, let by Mukesh Ambani is a power to reckon with in oil, gas and petroleum exploration and production along with several solar energy initiatives under the banner of Reliance Solar Group."

Mittal started in the family steel business in the 1970s, broke out on his own in 1994 and is now planning joint iron venture in Liberia and Guinea with miner BHP Billiton, it noted. "Bought 12-bedroom mansion in Kensington for more than $100 million in 2004; was London's most expensive home at the time."

Billionaire Sebastian Piñera who won Chile's presidential election, defeating incumbent Eduardo Frei in a runoff vote is ranked 15th on the list which has two other billionaires currently running countries.

"Media and banking titan Silvio Berlusconi is prime minister of Italy and ranks second on Forbes list. Billionaire industrial heir, Saad Hariri, who was appointed prime minister of Lebanon Iast June, ranks fifth.

Rounding out the top five: Mexican telecom titan Carlos Slim and Russian oil magnate Vagit Alekperov.

Apple's Steve Jobs ranks as the 18th most powerful billionaire in the world. Billionaires falling from the ranks this year include Oprah Winfrey, Roman Abramovich and Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-company/corporate-trends/Mukesh-Ambani-Lakshmi-Mittal-among-Worlds-Most-Powerful-Billionaires/articleshow/5510218.cms

India’s Mukesh Ambani receives the Penn Engineering Dean’s medal

Mukesh Ambani, the CMD of Reliance Industries Ltd., received the Penn Engineering Dean’s Medal here in Mumbai, India, on Friday, 8th January 2010. In a ceremony at the Trident Hotel he was honoured with the Dean’s Medal by Eduardo Glandt, Dean of Penn Engineering. The University of Pennsylvania has conferred this award on Mukesh Ambani for his visionary leadership in the application of engineering and technology for the betterment of society and mankind. The award is a testimony to this global visionary; who runs India’s biggest corporate house, Reliance Industries Ltd.

The keynote address for the event was made by Dean Glandt who introduced Mukesh Ambani warmly, in a well attended gathering in the Regal Room of the Trident Hotel. Amidst the attendees were industrialists, celebrities and the Indian media including Kumaramangalam Birla, Anand Mahindra and Sachin Tendulkar. In his speech Mr. Ambani announced the newest project of the Reliance Foundation – a university in India, to be headed by Mrs. Nita Ambani. He also expressed with much passion the requirement for a global paradigm shift to include a focus on real engineering instead of financial engineering in light of the recent economic crisis.

Mr. Mukesh Ambani has come a long way having started his corporate journey in 1981 when he joined his father, late Mr. Dhirubhai Ambani, the founding chairman of Reliance. He initiated Reliance’s vertical integration journey from textiles into polyester fibres and further into petrochemicals, petroleum refining and eventually oil and gas exploration and production. He then led the creation of 51 new, world-class manufacturing facilities encompassing diverse technologies that increased Reliance’s manufacturing capacities manifold.

The Jamnagar Refinery in Gujarat which is now the world’s largest grassroots petroleum refinery was the brainchild of Mukesh Ambani. Dhirubhai’s dream project Reliance Infocomm, which is now one of the largest telecommunications companies in India and has emerged as Reliance Communications Limited was also set up by Mukesh Ambani. He is currently steering Reliance’s development of a pan-India retail network, a transformational initiative connecting, rural and urban India.

In a recent study by the Harvard Business Review, Mukesh Ambani has been recognized as the fifth best CEO of the world in a review, which surveyed a total of 1,999 CEOs of large public traded companies across the globe. In the course of his career he has been conferred as many as 5 awards by NDTV, a leading news channel in India. He has also featured in the survey of ‘Top 50 Most Respected Business Leaders of the World’ conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2002 as well as 2004. At the global level Mukesh Ambani has been felicitated twice by the United States India Business Council. He is also the only Indian CEO to be invited thus far to become a Council Member of World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in July 2007.

Mukesh Ambani offers prayers at Lord Venkateshwara shrine

Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani offered prayers at Lord Venkateswara and donated Rs one crore on the occasion of his birthday on Monday.Ambani, was accompanied by his family."Earlier he also has made offerings and today also he has donated one crore rupees," said D K Audikesavula Naidu, board chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam.Ambani, an ardent devotee of Lord Venkateswara, had in 2007 donated a Rs. five crore for the construction of a guesthouse.

Source :- http://news.oneindia.in/2010/04/20/mukeshambani-offers-prayers-at-lord-venkateshwarashrine.html