ITC Limited has appointed Amitabh Kant as Independent Director, effective January 1, 2026, and reappointed Hemant Malik as Whole-Time Director, effective August 12, 2026.
ITC Limited has announced the appointment of Amitabh Kant as an Independent Director on its Board, effective January 1, 2026. Additionally, Hemant Malik has been reappointed as Whole-Time Director, effective August 12, 2026.
Kant, a retired IAS officer of the 1980 Kerala cadre, most recently served as India’s G20 Sherpa. He was the CEO of NITI Aayog from 2016 to 2022 and previously served as Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) from 2014 to 2016, where he spearheaded transformative national initiatives such as Make in India, Startup India, and the Aspirational Districts Programme. As NITI Aayog’s CEO, he drove reforms in electric mobility, SDGs, asset monetisation, and ease of doing business. He also chaired several high-impact policy committees on industrial corridors, tourism, and green growth. Earlier in his career, he played a pivotal role in the creation of India’s iconic tourism campaigns — “God’s Own Country” and “Incredible India”. Kant continues to contribute to public policy, sustainability, and development through various advisory and academic roles.
Malik, Divisional Chief Executive of ITC’s Foods Business Division, has been with ITC since 1989 and brings over 35 years of leadership experience across foods, tobacco, and trade marketing & distribution. He has previously served as Chief Executive of TM&D and Divisional Chief Executive of the India Tobacco Division. Under his leadership, ITC’s Foods portfolio expanded significantly, with brands like Aashirvaad, Sunfeast, Bingo!, YiPPee!, and Kitchens of India becoming household names. Malik also serves as Chairman of FICCI’s Food Processing Committee. He holds a graduate degree in economics from Delhi University and an MBA from IIM Calcutta.
