Indian conglomerate Adani Group is reshaping its leadership structure by increasing the presence of women at the top, with a number of appointments going to members of the founding family.
The move is part of the company’s broader plan to improve diversity in its boardrooms, but also reflects the long-standing Indian corporate tradition of keeping leadership within the family.
In recent months, two women with close ties to Gautam Adani’s family have been tasked with leading significant operations across the group, marking a fresh phase in how the conglomerate is managed.
Women in leadership rise from 12.5% to 20%
The Adani Group has set a target to ensure women hold at least 20% of board positions, compared with 12.5% in the year ended March. This shift aligns with the company’s stated diversity, equity, and inclusion framework.
To support this, new leadership appointments have been made.
Srushti Adani, wife of Sagar Adani, the billionaire’s nephew, has been given the responsibility of overseeing digital initiatives at Adani Digital Labs, which operates under the conglomerate’s airport division.
Alongside her, Diva Adani, who recently married Gautam Adani’s youngest son Jeet Adani, has been placed in charge of non-aero business strategies at Adani Airport Holdings Ltd. Her role will involve driving a customer-focused approach to airport management.
The changes highlight a dual strategy: strengthening women’s participation in corporate leadership, while continuing to keep control firmly anchored within the founding family.
Background of the new family leaders
Diva Adani brings experience from her work at the Adani Foundation, where she contributed to disability-related programmes over the past year. She is the daughter of Surat-based diamond merchant Jaimin Shah.
Her appointment places her in a position to directly influence the growth and diversification of the airport business.
Srushti Adani, an engineering graduate from the University of California, previously founded and led Wellnest Tech, a medical equipment manufacturing firm.
Her background in engineering and entrepreneurship is expected to complement her new role in leading digital projects across the airport operations.
Indian conglomerates continue family-driven model
Adani Group’s approach reflects a broader trend across Indian conglomerates, where leadership roles are frequently given to family members.
Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd. has also made similar moves, with his daughter Isha Ambani heading the retail arm and his wife Nita Ambani leading the joint venture between Reliance and Walt Disney Co.
Other major Indian businesses, such as Aditya Birla Group, Godrej Industries Ltd., and Piramal Enterprises Ltd., have also named wives, daughters, and daughters-in-law to senior management roles over the past decade.
This model reinforces family control but raises questions about meritocracy and evaluation, particularly in times when financial performance comes under pressure.
Philanthropy and education also led by women in Adani Group
The influence of women within the Adani Group is not limited to corporate functions. Namrata Adani, wife of Pranav Adani, plays a significant role in education through the Adani International School and also serves as a non-executive director at the group.
The family’s matriarch, Priti Adani, leads the Adani Foundation, which operates in 7,060 villages across 21 Indian states, focusing on areas such as education, health, and rural development.
These roles highlight how women in the family are being positioned to shape both the business and the group’s philanthropic work, creating a wider impact beyond core operations.
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