Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, June 2026 – Balaji Kidambi Mani has been appointed as Whole-Time Director and Chief Financial Officer at Ashok Leyland, marking a significant milestone in an exceptional career spanning more than three decades with one of India’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers.
His appointment reflects Ashok Leyland’s confidence in a leader who has grown within the organization and played a pivotal role in shaping its financial strategy, governance, treasury operations, investor relations, business finance, and capital management initiatives. Having spent over 32 years with the company, Balaji brings deep institutional knowledge and extensive experience across virtually every critical area of the finance function.
Currently serving as Chief Financial Officer, a position he assumed in 2024, Balaji has been responsible for overseeing the company’s financial strategy and performance during a transformative phase for the automotive industry. Prior to becoming CFO, he served as Deputy CFO, where his role was significantly expanded to include mergers and acquisitions, business finance, indirect taxation, exports finance, and product development finance, strengthening the financial framework supporting the company’s long-term growth objectives.
Earlier, as Senior Vice President – Finance, he led key functions including budgeting, budgetary controls, management information systems (MIS), investor relations, pricing, product cost engineering, business support, centralized receivables, and centralized payables. His contributions helped strengthen financial discipline while supporting operational efficiency and strategic decision-making across the organization.
Before that, Balaji held progressively senior leadership positions including Vice President – Finance, General Manager – Finance, and Deputy General Manager – Finance, steadily expanding his responsibilities across financial planning, business support, and performance management functions. During his tenure as Head of Budgets, MIS, Costing, and Investor Relations, he played a crucial role in strengthening financial reporting, cost management, and stakeholder communication processes.
His earlier career at Ashok Leyland included leadership of the company’s Treasury function, where he managed foreign exchange operations, institutional finance, sales finance, and banking relationships. Prior to treasury leadership, he began his journey with the organization as an Audit Executive, conducting audits across manufacturing plants, warehouses, sales offices, and regional operations, building a strong foundation in governance, compliance, and financial controls.
Balaji’s career progression from audit executive to Whole-Time Director and CFO exemplifies a remarkable journey of professional growth, leadership development, and commitment to organizational excellence. His extensive expertise across treasury, investor relations, finance transformation, mergers and acquisitions, cost engineering, taxation, and strategic planning positions him strongly to support Ashok Leyland’s next phase of growth and innovation.
About Ashok Leyland
Ashok Leyland is one of India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturers and a flagship company of the Hinduja Group. The company has played a critical role in India’s transportation and infrastructure development, with its vehicles earning a reputation for reliability, durability, and performance.
Ashok Leyland is a market leader in the bus and commercial vehicle segments and serves customers across domestic and international markets. The company has consistently focused on product innovation, technology advancement, quality excellence, and sustainability. It was among the first Indian automotive companies to achieve major global quality certifications, including ISO 9002, ISO 9001, QS 9000, ISO 14001, and ISO/TS 16949, reflecting its commitment to world-class manufacturing and operational standards.
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