Anant Ambani

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Anant Ambani
Anant Mukesh Ambani.JPG
Born (1995-04-10) April 10, 1995 (age 31)
Mumbai
NationalityIndian
CitizenshipIndia
Alma mater
Occupation
Organization
  • Jio Platforms Limited (Board of Directors)
  • Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (Board of Directors)
  • Reliance New Energy Limited (Board of Directors)
  • Reliance New Solar Energy Limited (Managing Director)
  • Reliance Industries (Board of Directors)
  • Reliance Foundation (Board of Directors)
Known forVantara, wildlife conservation, renewable energy
TitleExecutive Director, Reliance Industries Limited
Partner(s)Radhika Merchant
Parents
  • Mukesh Ambani (father)
  • Nita Ambani (mother)
Relatives

Anant Mukesh Ambani (born 10 April 1995) is an Indian businessman and philanthropist. He is the youngest son of Indian industrialist Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani. He serves as an executive director of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), where his responsibilities include the group's new-energy initiatives. He is also associated with the boards of Jio Platforms Limited, Reliance Retail Ventures Limited and Reliance Foundation.[1][2][3]

Ambani founded Vantara, a wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and conservation initiative located in Jamnagar, Gujarat. In September 2026, he received a Professorship of Practice in Sustainability from Newcastle University in the United Kingdom. His work and public profile have also attracted scrutiny regarding Vantara's acquisition of wildlife and the relationship between corporate influence, fossil-fuel businesses and sustainability initiatives.[4][5]

Early life and education

Anant Ambani was born in Mumbai, India, on 10 April 1995. He is the younger son of Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, and Nita Ambani, founder of Reliance Foundation. His elder siblings are Akash Ambani and Isha Ambani.

He attended Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Mumbai and graduated from Brown University in the United States.[1]

Career

Ambani joined the leadership of the Reliance group and became involved in its energy and materials businesses, including initiatives related to renewable energy, green hydrogen, carbon capture, circular materials and clean fuels. These projects form part of Reliance Industries' stated objective of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2035.[1]

In April 2025, Reliance Industries announced his appointment as a whole-time director, designated as executive director, for a five-year term beginning on 1 May 2025. Shareholders subsequently approved the appointment. In this role, he became more directly involved in the company's executive leadership.[6][7]

As executive director, Ambani has participated in discussions concerning energy and digital infrastructure. On 21 October 2026, he and Mukesh Ambani met United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio at Reliance's Jamnagar complex. According to Reliance and Reuters, discussions covered energy supplies, new-energy technologies, data centres and potential commercial cooperation between Indian and American companies.[8]

Vantara

Ambani is the founder of Vantara, a wildlife rescue, treatment, rehabilitation and conservation initiative situated within Reliance's Jamnagar complex in Gujarat. Developed with the support of Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation, the facility covers approximately 3,500 acres and provides care for rescued and vulnerable animals.[9]

In August 2026, Vantara announced a partnership with Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry and Indonesian wildlife organisation Fauna Land. The programme was intended to strengthen veterinary services, wildlife healthcare infrastructure, conservation and training for personnel involved in wildlife management. Proposed measures included mobile veterinary facilities and upgrades to elephant-care facilities in Indonesia.[10]

In October 2026, Ambani launched Vantara's Champions of Care initiative. Reported as bringing together more than 50 animal-welfare organisations, the programme aims to support community animal care through veterinary resources, infrastructure, training and collaboration with local organisations.[11]

Wildlife sourcing and oversight

Vantara has faced scrutiny from conservation organisations over the sourcing and transfer of some endangered animals to the facility. In 2025, a report by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Secretariat raised concerns about animal-import documentation and the potential risks of large-scale wildlife transfers. The Indian Supreme Court's investigation did not find wrongdoing by the facility, while subsequent international scrutiny continued to focus on wildlife sourcing and safeguards.[5][12]

In August 2026, Vantara announced a voluntary moratorium of at least 12 months on applications to import live animals, effective from 5 June 2026, while it strengthened its due-diligence and governance procedures. Conservation organisations subsequently called for a permanent moratorium and greater transparency about the animals held at the facility. Vantara said it would strengthen its procedures for future acquisitions and increase its focus on conservation in animals' native ranges.[13]

[13]

Professorship of Practice in Sustainability

On 14 September 2026, Newcastle University awarded Ambani a Professorship of Practice in Sustainability, citing his work in animal welfare, biodiversity protection, conservation and environmental stewardship, as well as his involvement in Reliance's energy transition.[4]

The appointment prompted criticism from some academics and conservationists, who questioned whether his association with a major oil and gas business and the controversies surrounding Vantara were consistent with a sustainability professorship. Newcastle University defended the appointment on the basis of his work in conservation and the energy transition. The university also stated that it had not received a donation from Ambani or an affiliated company in exchange for the appointment.[5][14]

Personal life

Anant Ambani married Radhika Merchant on 12 July 2024 in Mumbai. The wedding followed several pre-wedding celebrations held in India and abroad.[15]

Anant has a penchant for luxury watches and has a collection that includes some of the most prestigious brands in the world, including Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Rolex, and Richard Mille.[16]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Anant M. Ambani". Reliance Industries Limited. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  2. ↑ "Mukesh Ambani gets teary-eyed as Anant, Akash, Isha talk about Reliance's journey at Jio listing". The Times of India. 28 October 2026. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  3. ↑ "Jio Platforms IPO: Ambani children lead listing, Mukesh Ambani emotional". Rediff.com. Press Trust of India. 28 October 2026. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Sustainability leader honoured by Newcastle University". Newcastle University. 14 September 2026. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Hall, Rachel; Greenfield, Patrick (24 September 2026). "Backlash as Indian oil heir made professor of sustainability by Newcastle University". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  6. ↑ "Anant Ambani appointed executive director of Reliance Industries for 5 yrs". Business Standard. 26 April 2025. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  7. ↑ "Anant Ambani's appointment to RIL board gets shareholder nod". The Economic Times. 31 July 2025. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  8. ↑ "Reliance says Ambanis and Rubio discussed global energy, data centres in visit". Reuters. 21 October 2026. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  9. ↑ "Philanthropic Initiatives of RIL". Reliance Industries Limited. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  10. ↑ "Govt expands wildlife conservation cooperation with India's Vantara". ANTARA News. 24 August 2026. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  11. ↑ "Anant Ambani unites over 50 animal welfare groups under Vantara's 'Champions of Care' initiative". The Times of India. 7 October 2026. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  12. ↑ Sirur, Simrin (25 September 2026). "NGOs call for permanent moratorium on animal imports to Vantara". Mongabay. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Sirur, Simrin (25 September 2026). "NGOs call for permanent moratorium on animal imports to Vantara". Mongabay. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  14. ↑ "Anant Ambani didn't buy honour: Newcastle University denies donation for professorship". The Telegraph. 26 September 2026. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  15. ↑ "Anant Ambani, Radhika Merchant are now married". India Today. 13 July 2024. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  16. ↑ "The Insane Watch Collection of Anant Ambani". IFL Watches. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2024.

External links

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