Manjushree Khaitan, chairperson of Kesoram Industries and younger daughter of Basant Kumar Birla, passed away on Thursday at Birla Park in Kolkata after a prolonged illness at the age of 69.
Khaitan joined the Kesoram board in October 1998. In 2013, her father's succession plan became clear when she was appointed executive vice-chairman. After her father's death in July 2019, she assumed the role of non-executive chairperson. Kesoram, which operates in the tyre and cement industries, underwent significant restructuring under her leadership to reduce debt and stabilize the company. Last year, Kesoram decided to separate its cement operations and proposed an all-stock deal with UltraTech Cement, led by her nephew Kumar Mangalam Birla. The deal is pending regulatory approval. The tyre business was separated earlier and acquired by Himadri Speciality Chemical and Dalmia Bharat Refractories through a corporate insolvency resolution.
A company insider noted Khaitan's dedication to Kesoram, highlighting her phenomenal memory. She was also deeply involved with educational institutions, particularly the Ashok Hall group of schools, for over four decades.
Khaitan was passionate about supporting the education of underprivileged girls. As an art connoisseur, she supported many artists through her involvement with the Birla Academy of Fine Arts. In 2023, her daughter, Vidula Jalan, who was co-chairperson of Mangalam Cement, also passed away.
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