The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) announced its new leadership team on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, for the upcoming 2026-27 term. R Mukundan, the Managing Director and CEO of Tata Chemicals, has been appointed as the new President of the prominent industry body, succeeding EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani.
Meet the New CII Leadership
Mukundan's appointment marks a significant transition within CII, bringing his extensive experience from the Tata Group to lead the confederation. He will be joined by a distinguished team comprising Dr. Suchitra Ella of Bharat Biotech and Shashwat Goenka from the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group.
R Mukundan: CII President
R Mukundan, a veteran of the Tata Group for over three decades, brings a wealth of experience from the chemicals, automotive, and hospitality sectors. An alumnus of IIT Roorkee and FMS Delhi University, he joined the Tata Administrative Service in 1990. Prior to his presidency, Mukundan served as CII president-designate for 2025-26 and chaired the industry body’s western region in 2013-14. His leadership also extended to CII's Institute of Quality Advisory Council and national committees on environment and industrial relations.
Dr. Suchitra Ella: President-Designate
Dr. Suchitra Ella, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech, has been named the President-Designate for CII. Since co-founding Bharat Biotech in 1996, she has been instrumental in its growth and has also established ventures in veterinary sciences, agri-biotech parks, food processing, and pre-clinical research. Recognized with the Padma Bhushan in 2022 for her contributions, Dr. Ella previously chaired CII's Southern Region in 2022-23 and was the founder chairperson of CII's Indian Women’s Network from 2013 to 2015.
Shashwat Goenka: Vice President
Shashwat Goenka, Vice-Chairman of the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, will serve as CII's Vice President. An alumnus of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Goenka is recognized as a leading young business figure in India. He was designated a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2024 and has been featured in prestigious lists such as Fortune’s 40 Under 40. Goenka recently chaired the CII Eastern Regional Council and holds the honorary consul position for Finland in Kolkata.
These appointments were formally approved during a meeting of CII's newly constituted National Council, setting the stage for the industry body's strategic direction in the coming year.