
Kumar Mangalam Birla Takes Over As Non-Executive Chairman Of Vodafone Idea; Ravinder Takkar Appointed As Vice Chairman
Vodafone Idea Limited has appointed Kumar Mangalam Birla as Non-Executive Chairman, replacing Ravinder Takkar, who will now serve as Non-Executive Vice Chairman, effective May 5, 2026.
Birla, who was already a Non-Executive Director, will now lead the Board. Takkar will continue as a Board Member in his new role, ensuring continuity in oversight.
Birla is Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, which operates across multiple countries and sectors. He chairs the Boards of group companies, including Hindalco Industries Ltd., Grasim Industries Ltd., UltraTech Cement Ltd., and Aditya Birla Capital Ltd. During his tenure, the group has expanded its scale and operations across sectors. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2023. Birla is associated with academic institutions, serving as Chancellor of Birla Institute of Technology and Science and in roles with the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. A chartered accountant, he holds an MBA from London Business School.
Takkar has over three decades of work experience in the telecom sector. He served as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director (CEO & MD) of Vodafone Idea from August 2019 to August 2022, before moving to a Board role. He has been associated with Vodafone Group since 1994 and has held leadership positions across multiple markets. He was CEO of Vodafone Romania and later led Vodafone Partner Markets in London. His roles have also included leadership in strategy and business development, as well as heading the enterprise business. Takkar has been involved in the Indian telecom sector since 2007. He holds a bachelor’s degree in science from Loyola Marymount University.




