Welspun World, a rapidly expanding global conglomerate, has announced the appointment of Mr. G R Arun Kumar as the new Group Chief Financial Officer, effective May 20, 2024. Based in Mumbai, Mr. Arun Kumar will play a pivotal role in advancing Welspun World’s ambitious growth strategy. He will oversee the Group Finance & Strategy, Group Investor Relations, Group Mergers & Acquisitions, and Growth Strategy teams, all of which will report directly to him.
Mr. Arun Kumar’s responsibilities will include partnering with the board and business units on three-year and five-year plans, driving strategic financial planning at the group level, overseeing mergers and acquisitions, managing fundraising efforts, treasury, investor relations, and external stakeholder engagement.
Bringing nearly three decades of experience from both global and Indian multinationals such as Ola, Vedanta, General Electric (GE), and Hindustan Unilever, Mr. Arun Kumar has a proven track record in finance and strategy. His expertise includes managing business growth and turnarounds, overseeing large-scale debt and equity capital market transactions, and excelling in governance, reporting, compliance, operations, and organizational development.
Prior to joining Welspun World, Mr. Arun Kumar served as Group President & Chief Financial Officer at Ola in Bangalore, where he was instrumental in establishing Ola Electric as India’s leading EV company. He also served as Group CFO at Vedanta, managing the balance sheet and finance function through various commodity cycles. Additionally, he led international teams at GE and developed robust business and finance foundation skills through multiple roles at Hindustan Unilever, where he began his career.
Mr. Arun Kumar is a gold medallist commerce graduate from Loyola College and a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA) from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, where he ranked 17th nationally.
Commenting on the appointment, Mr. B K Goenka, Chairman of Welspun World, said, “We are delighted to welcome Arun to the Welspun World family. His multifaceted finance leadership and strategic acumen will be crucial in navigating the Group’s growth aspirations and continuing to deliver value to our stakeholders.”
Newly appointed Group CFO Mr. Arun Kumar expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I am excited to join Welspun World and contribute to its dynamic growth journey. I look forward to collaborating with the talented team here to drive sustainable value creation for all our stakeholders.”