Mr. Ajay Jain

Mr. Ajay Jain is an accomplished entrepreneur, corporate leader, and educator with over four decades of experience in Indian and global businesses. He has successfully led turnarounds, driven international expansion, and built ventures in the Cleantech and sustainability space, earning recognition as a leading expert in sustainability and water management.

Deeply committed to IIM Calcutta, his engagement spans more than three decades. He has served the alumni community in leadership roles — as President of the Alumni Associations in Delhi and Mumbai, and as Vice President in Chennai — strengthening connections and networks. He has also contributed to the Institute’s growth and innovation ecosystem as a Member of the Board of Governors and as Chairman of IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, guiding its mission to nurture start-ups and entrepreneurs.

Mr. Jain’s corporate career includes leadership roles at SRF Group and Raymond, and more than 15 years as a business head before returning to entrepreneurship. He has founded businesses in Kuwait in the 1980s and established two ventures in India. A lifelong social worker, he supports education for underprivileged girls and youth empowerment in rural communities.

Actively involved in accelerator programs and innovation initiatives, he has addressed multiple forums on entrepreneurial thinking and taught at institutions including IIM Calcutta, IIM Trichy, and the Great Lakes Institute of Management. True to his belief that “a leader must develop other leaders,” he has inspired students and professionals who now lead in India and abroad. He enjoys music and travel.