Bengaluru: Titan Company Limited has announced a key leadership transition, with Ajoy Chawla set to take over as Managing Director from C K Venkataraman, who is scheduled to retire on December 31, 2025. The succession plan was approved by Titan’s Board of Directors at a meeting held earlier today.
Venkataraman, widely known as “Venkat,” has been with the Tata Group company for over three decades. He joined Titan in 1990 and assumed the role of Managing Director in October 2019. His retirement aligns with the Tata Group’s policy on superannuation.
Ajoy Chawla, currently serving as CEO of Titan’s Jewellery Division, will step into the Managing Director role effective January 1, 2026. His elevation marks a continuation of internal succession planning within the company’s leadership ranks.
Chawla is a Mechanical Engineering graduate from VJTI Mumbai and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from IIM Calcutta. A Tata Administrative Services (TAS) officer from the 1990 batch, he began his journey at Titan in 1991. Over the years, he has held diverse leadership roles across the Watches and Accessories businesses, Commercial Operations, Retail, Supply Chain, and Strategy.
Between 2013 and 2019, Chawla served as Titan’s Chief Strategy Officer, overseeing new business incubation, including the scaling of the Fragrances business and the establishment of ethnic wear brand Taneira. Since taking charge of the Jewellery Division in October 2019, he has led the unit through a period of significant growth, with both revenue and profit increasing 2.5 times under his leadership.
The company stated that the process of appointing Chawla to the Board and formalizing his role as Managing Director will be completed in due course, pending shareholder approval.
Commenting on the succession, Venkataraman said, “On behalf of the entire Titan team, I welcome Ajoy to lead Titan in its next phase of innovation and growth. With his strong customer focus, people-centric approach, collaborative mindset, and commitment to value creation, Ajoy is well-positioned to guide Titan to greater scale and success.”
Titan has yet to announce Chawla’s successor as CEO of the Jewellery Division, with the company indicating that the decision will be made at a later date.
Titan, part of the Tata Group, is one of India’s leading lifestyle companies, with a strong presence in jewellery, watches, eyewear, and other accessories.
