Mr. Kanwar Bir Singh Anand - Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

Mr. Kanwar Bir Singh Anand

B.Tech., Mechanical Engineering, 1977

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARDEE | 2026

Mr. Kanwar Bir Singh Anand currently serves as an Independent Director on the boards of several leading companies, including Tata Chemicals Ltd., Borosil Ltd., Lupin Ltd., Bharat Forge Ltd., UFO Moviez Ltd., and Galaxy Surfactants Ltd. He previously served as the Managing Director and CEO of Asian Paints Ltd., retiring in March 2020.

After his B.Tech. from IIT Bombay, he received his PGDM (Marketing) from IIM Calcutta in 1979.

He joined Asian Paints Ltd. in June 1979 and remained with the company until his retirement in March 2020. During his tenure as Managing Director and CEO (2012–2020), Asian Paints emerged among the world’s top five decorative paint companies, achieving a turnover of Rs. 20,568 crore along with the industry’s highest EBITDA ratio and earnings per share.

Under his leadership over the last two decades, Asian Paints placed a strong emphasis on elevating the consumer experience, making consumer-centricity the focus of all activities, and repositioning the company from a paint provider to a comprehensive home décor solutions provider. The company introduced a wide range of consumer-oriented, problem-solving, and décor-providing products and services. It also enhanced the retail experience through its signature store format, The Colour Store, offering over 4,000 colour ideas and décor solutions, along with 20 ‘AP Homes’ that delivered end-to-end décor products and services across the country. During this period, the company conducted over two lakh colour consultations annually.

Asian Paints established fully automated manufacturing facilities, among the largest of their kind globally, and emerged as a leader in the implementation of advanced information technology systems.

Mr. Anand has received several prestigious recognitions over the course of his distinguished career, including the Indian Paint Association – Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025; the Business Standard CEO of the Year and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from IIM Kolkata in 2020; the EY Entrepreneurial CEO Award in 2018; the QIMPRO Gold Standard – 2017; and Business Today (India’s Best CEO), Business World (Most Valuable CEO), and the Forbes Leadership Award in 2016.

Interests & Hobbies: Currently – reading, playing bridge online, and travelling.

Special Memories of IIT Bombay

The first year at IIT Bombay, especially, was both challenging and character-building. Being tested on what you had not yet been taught made us think and understand. IIT Bombay made all of us humble about our intellect and abilities (there were so many others brighter and more intelligent). The level of co-working developed among colleagues and the support systems we provided each other held me in good stead all my life.

Professor Sukhatme (Heat Transfer) from the Mechanical Engineering Department was the most inspirational professor with the ability to explain the most complex problems in the simplest manner.