Ajinkya Firodia is an Indian industrialist, the Kinetic Group’s Managing Director. His group of companies manufactures and exports two-wheelers and their components.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Ajinkya Arun Firodia was born on Wednesday, 24 October 1979 (age 44 years; as of 2023) in Pune, Maharashtra. His zodiac sign is Scorpio.
Ajinkya Firodia (third from the left) during his school days
His school education was at Symbiosis School in Pune, Maharashtra. He got his economic and engineering degrees from Brown University in Rhode Island, USA. [1]The Economic Times
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 9″
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family & Caste
Ajinkya Firodia belongs to a Marwari family of the Jain community in Pune, Maharashtra.
Parents & Siblings
Ajinkya Firodia’s father, Dr Arun Firodia, is the Kinetic Group chairperson and a Padma Shri Award recipient. His mother, Dr Jayashree Firodia, is a paediatrician.
Ajinkya Firodia’s Parents
He has three sisters – Kimaya Firodia Kelkar, who is a graphic designer, Sulajja Firodia Motwani, founder of Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions Ltd and Vice-chairperson of Kinetic Engineering Limited, and Vismaya Arun Firodia, founder of the Infiniti Liveaboard.
Ajinkya Firodia with his mother and sisters
Wife & Children
Ajinkya Firodia married Aparna on 23 November 2005. They have two sons – Hridaan and Arjun. They have been separated since 2017 when Ajinkya filed for divorce.
Ajinkya Firodia with Aparna
Ajinkya Firodia has a son, named Zidane, with Arzoo Alamin.
Ajinkya Firodia with Arzoo Alamin and child Zidane
Other Relatives
Ajinkya is the grandson of H. K. Firodia (deceased), the founder of Kinetic Engineering Limited.
Ajinkya Firodia with grandfather H. K. Firodia
Ajinkya’s grandfather’s brother, Navalmal Kundanmal Firodia, was a Gandhian and an industrialist, who was the founder of the first autorickshaw manufacturing facility in 1947. He is the founder of Jaya Hind Industries and Force Motors Limited.
Navalmal Kundanmal Firodia
Ajinkya Firodia’s father’s cousin, Dr Abhay Firodia, son of Navalmal Kundanmal Firodia, is the chairman of Force Motors.
Dr Abhay Firodia
Relationships/Affairs
Ajinkya Firodia is in a relationship with Arzoo Alamin Lokhandwala, who is an entrepreneur and motorcycle enthusiast. She is the founder of a nail art salon called D’phi.
Ajinkya Firodia with Arzoo Alamin
Address
He resides at 20 Swaagat, Off Senapati Bapat Road, Pankuwar Firodia Path, Pune – 411016.
Signature/Autograph
Ajinkya Firodia’s signature
Career
Ajinkya Firodia started his career as a financial analyst at JPMorgan Chase & Co. on Wall Street, New York, USA on 11 September 2001, where he worked for two years. In 2003, he joined his family business, Kinetic Group, as the General Manager of Marketing in Kinetic Engineering. He was an integral part of the promotion and marketing of Kinetic Zing 80 in 2004. [2]DNA
Ajinkya Firodia at the launch of Kinetic Zing 80
Since 2009, he has been the Managing Director of the Kinetic Group. He contributed to the new business model of changing the focus to auto components. This decision increased the exports of automotive components to different parts of the world. He was instrumental in increasing the existing dealer base of the Kinetic Group and also in several collaborations such as the Norton Motorcycles joint venture to assemble and distribute various brands of superbikes in India and other Asian countries.
When asked about his management style, he responded,
A boss automatically gets a free hand when he assumes the responsibilities given to him. We are all answerable to someone — to department heads, board of directors, and even yourself. Once you assume the responsibility, people are happy to let you take decisions, devise strategies, and basically execute in a way you think is right. When given a free hand, one can channel the entire organisation to achieve a vision. And since it is his vision, the boss looks for the required resources, opportunities and manages the risks associated with it.”
He is on the board of various companies, like Motoroyale India Private Limited, Kinetic Engineering Limited, Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions Limited, Jaya Hind Mechanics Limited, Kinetic Watts and Volts Private Limited, and MV Agusta India Private Limited.
Ajinkya Firodia with a MV Agusta bike
Under his leadership, in the second quarter of 2022, Kinetic Engineering Ltd declared revenue of Rs 35.22 crore, which was a 125% increase from the previous quarter due to strategic decisions such as the prime focus on exports and rationalization of manpower cost. In the annual report for the financial year 2022-23, published by Kinetic Engineering Limited, the net profit increment was 130 per cent and the revenue growth percentage was 10.58 per cent. [3]The Hindu
Ajinkya Firodia at a work function of the Kinetic Group
The financials reported for Kinetic Engineering Limited for the second quarter of the financial year 2023-24 declared an increase of revenue by 6 per cent and an increase of net profit by 7 per cent as compared to the second quarter of the previous financial year. In February 2024, Kinetic Green launched the electric version of Luna (one of the popular two-wheelers of the Kinetic Group), known as the E-Luna. [4]The Financial Express
Ajinkya Firodia with the electric E-Luna
In the reality TV Show, Indian Angels (2023), streamed on JioCinema, Ajinkya appears as one of the angel investors that support the various start-ups.
Ajinkya Firodia on the poster of the reality TV Show Indian Angels
Awards
- In 2017, Ajinkya won the 40 under 40 Award from the Economic Times for his various business initiatives and contributions.
- In 2017, he received the URJA Awards for Excellence in Business & Industry from Hello! and the USK Foundation.
- In 2021, he received the Next Generation Leader of the Year Award at the Manufacturing Today Conference & Awards. [5]Manufacturing Today
Car Collection
- Jaguar XJ
Ajinkya Firodia and his Jaguar XJ
- Audi A8 L
- Mercedes-Benz E-class W123 1982 model
Ajinkya Firodia and Mercedes-Benz E class W123
Tattoo(s)
- Ajinkya Firodia got a tattoo of the letter ‘A’, inked on his left wrist as it stands for the first letter of his and his son’s name.
- He also got the tattoo ‘I will prevail’, inked on his right arm, as a motivation mantra to take new risks and succeed. [6]The Economic Times
Ajinkya Firodia with the tattoo (circled)
Salary
Ajinkya received a salary of Rs 70.68 Lakh from Kinetic Engineering Limited for the financial year, 2022-23.
Net Worth
As of 2023, the net worth of Ajinkya is estimated as over Rs 52.7 crore. [7]Trendlyne.com
Favourites
- Sports: Swimming
- Actor: Amitabh Bachchan
- Travel Destination: Maldives
Facts/Trivia
- Ajinkya Firodia is fondly called Aju by his mother. He is known as Jinx, among his close circle of friends and relatives.
- His favourite pastime is watching films.
- He is a travel enthusiast, and associates travelling with learning and rediscovering. [8]The Economic Times
- He got his first earnings by selling firecrackers as a Boy Scout.
- In an interview, he revealed that even though his business is connected with two-wheelers, he is not much of a biker.
- A police case on attempt to murder, along with certain other charges, was registered against Aparna Ajinkya Firodia, for allegedly attacking Ajinkya Firodia with a kitchen knife at their home. [9]Hindustan Times
- His favourite motto is “Stay in the game”.
- He has a pet dog of the breed Shih Tzu named Doobie.
Ajinkya Firodia with pet dog Doobie
References
