Isha and Akash Ambani turn 35: The twins steering Reliance's telecom and retail bets

Isha Ambani and Akash Ambani, the twin children of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani, turn 35 today. Born on October 23, 1991, the siblings have moved from being the visible face of the group's next generation to leading two of its most consumer-facing businesses.

Both joined the Reliance boards in 2014, and their early work centred on the group's telecom and retail ventures. Over the years, the two have worked as a team, and they were among those who led the discussions that brought Facebook, Google and other global technology names into Jio Platforms.

Akash took over as Chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm in June 2022. Jio, which launched commercially in 2016, rewrote the rules of India's mobile data market with affordable 4G and has grown into one of the country's largest telecom players. Akash had been closely involved in shaping the company's products and digital services from its early days.

Isha was elevated to lead Reliance Retail days later. The business is India's largest retailer, spanning grocery, fashion, electronics and consumer brands, and at the 2022 Reliance AGM she announced its entry into FMCG. Her remit has also included branding and marketing for Jio and Reliance Retail, a role that puts brand building at the centre of her work.

The twins' shared journey reflects a larger shift at the conglomerate, where a new generation has taken on defined leadership roles across telecom, retail and digital services while the group continues to expand its consumer footprint.

For the advertising and marketing community, the siblings' businesses are hard to miss. Jio and Reliance Retail count among the country's most visible brands, and the choices their leaders make on positioning, partnerships and storytelling tend to shape conversations well beyond the boardroom.

At 35, Isha and Akash are no longer just the next generation. They are the generation in charge of some of the group's biggest bets, with the responsibility of balancing scale with relevance in a market that keeps changing.

As they step into another year, the wishes pouring in from across the industry are for health, happiness and continued success. e4m joins in wishing the Ambani twins a very happy birthday.