R Mukundan, managing director

Ramakrishnan Mukundan is the managing director of Tata Chemicals Limited (TCL), and was the executive director of the company. Prior to that, he was the executive vice president (chemicals) and was responsible for the chemicals business and consumer products business of TCL and its subsidiaries.

He joined TCL in 2001 and led various functions like strategy and business development, corporate quality, corporate planning, and manufacturing before taking over as the chief operating officer of the chemicals business of the company. He played an active role in the TCL transformation efforts in 2002, and also in the growth of domestic business as well as acquisition of new facilities in Brunner Mond (UK), Magadi Soda (Kenya) and General Chemicals (US).

Mr Mukundan has been a member playing decisive role in several industry forums like Indian Chemical Council, past executive member of Automotive Components Manufacturers Association, past president of Alkali Manufacturers Association of India, CII Chemical Industry forum.

An engineer from IIT Roorkee, Mr Mukundan, 42, joined the Tata Administrative Service (TAS) in 1990 after completing MBA from Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), New Delhi and worked with Tata AutoComp Systems and Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL). He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School’s advanced management programme.

Mr Mukundan lives in Mumbai with his wife Sheila, a doctor, and son Siddharth who goes to school. He is an avid reader, traveller, and a fitness enthusiast.