Gautam Adani made a significant comeback in 2024, amidst the Hindenburg Research scandal. The businessman is the Chairman of Adani Group, a multinational conglomerate with diverse interests in ports, airports, power generation, transmission and green energy, amongst others. His real-time net worth stands at a mammoth $80.4 billion (approximately Rs 6.7 lakh crore), according to Forbes.
Like any other successful industrialist, Gautam Adani too has many close aides who help him grow his $32 billion (approximately Rs 2.6 lakh crore) conglomerate. In particular, Gautam’s childhood friend and right hand has been a key player in Adani Group’s success…
Meet Gautam Adani’s right hand
Gautam Adani’s right hand is Dr. Malay Mahadevia. Malay is the Whole Time Director of Adani Ports & SEZ (APSEZ) and CEO of Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL). APSEZ’s revenue in FY 23 stood at Rs 20,852 crore, according to their annual report. Gautam Adani’s son Karan Adani is currently CEO of APSEZ. On the other hand, Adani Enterprises which houses AAHL saw the subsidiary’s total income to be Rs 1.38 lakh crore for FY 23, according to their annual report. The income increase is credited to a strong performance by the Airport business.
Malay Mahadevia, according to the Economic Times, is Gautam Adani’s childhood friend who joined the Adani Group in 1992. Back then, Gautam Adani enlisted the help of Mahadevia as CEO of Mundra Port, India’s largest private port in Gujarat operated by APSEZ. The dentist-turned-entrepreneur worked on developing Mundra Port — from conceptualization to commissioning.
According to PTI, in 2016, Malay Mahadevia drew a salary of Rs 10.7 crore as Whole Time Director of APSEZ. Malay is also a Director at Adani Wilmar, a multinational F&B conglomerate, which is a joint venture between Adani Enterprises and Singapore-based Wilmar International. The company is India’s largest processor of palm oil. According to Mint, as per FY 23 Q4 results, Adani Wilmar’s total revenue stands at Rs 13,872.64 crore.
Before joining the Adani Group, Malay Mahadevia worked as an Assistant Professor at Government Dental College, Ahmedabad. He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Dental Surgery from the University of Bombay and a Ph.D. in Coastal Ecology from Gujarat University.
