Dr. Ajit Ranade is an influential economist, corporate executive, and strategic advisor whose expertise spans the intersection of economics, finance, and public policy. He currently serves as the Group Executive President and Chief Economist at the Aditya Birla Group, a $42 billion multinational conglomerate. His career provides a unique, high-level perspective on the social, political, and economic factors that are actively shaping India and the global emerging markets.
Ranade’s career trajectory is distinguished by his experience in both the private sector and high-level policymaking. He previously worked with ABN AMRO Bank and served as a member of the influential Capital Convertibility Committee of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Today, he is a key member of the apex committees of India's most prominent industry bodies, CII and FICCI, giving him direct influence on national economic strategy.
His commitment to robust economic institutions and democratic reform is clear. He chairs the Research Advisory Panel of the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance and is a member of the Governing Council of the RBI's Centre for Advanced Financial Research and Learning (CAFRAL). Furthermore, he co-founded the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), a respected NGO working toward electoral and political reforms in India.
An accomplished scholar with a Ph.D. in Economics from Brown University, Ranade is the Government of India’s nominee for the Governing Board of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA). His keynote speeches focus on Management & Leadership, Finance & Economy, and Politics & Policy, offering audiences a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of Understanding India and the strategic imperatives for corporate growth and global transformation.
