New Delhi, May 13: The newly constituted National Council of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Tuesday elected its office bearers for 2026–27, appointing Tata Chemicals Ltd Managing Director and CEO R. Mukundan as the President for the year.
Mukundan succeeds Rajiv Memani and brings over three decades of experience within the Tata Group, having worked across chemical, automotive, and hospitality businesses. He joined the Tata Administrative Service in 1990 after completing his MBA from the Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi University, and is an alumnus of IIT Roorkee. He is also a Fellow of the Indian Chemical Society and holds an honorary doctorate from XIM University, Bhubaneswar.
Mukundan has previously played key roles within CII, including chairing its Western Region and leading several national committees focused on environment, quality, and industrial relations.
Bharat Biotech International Ltd co-founder and Managing Director Suchitra K. Ella has been named CII President-Designate for 2026–27. A Padma Bhushan awardee, Ella has been instrumental in building Bharat Biotech and expanding India’s biotechnology ecosystem, including ventures in veterinary sciences, agri-biotech, and research infrastructure. She has also held multiple leadership positions within CII, including Chairperson of the Southern Region and the Indian Women’s Network.
RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group Vice Chairman Shashwat Goenka has been appointed CII Vice President for 2026–27. An alumnus of St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, and The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, he has been recognised as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and featured among several national and international leadership rankings.
The appointments reflect CII’s focus on experienced industry leadership across manufacturing, biotechnology, and diversified conglomerates to guide India’s industrial growth agenda.
