T.L. Palani Kumar is the former Country Head, India & South Asia of UC RUSAL Limited, a Russian-Swiss giant which is the world's largest producer of Aluminum/Alumina with over 100,000 employees and operations in 17 countries.

An Engineering  graduate from IIT Madras and a PGDBA from IIM-A,  Palani started his career with Asian Paints Ltd. and then moved on to Tube Investments of India Ltd., where he was Senior Vice President.

Prior to his current assignment, Palani has been Executive Director & CEO-Escorts Tractors Pvt. Ltd., Managing Director & CEO-New Holland Tractors (India) Pvt. Ltd., and CEO of Aluminium Business of Sterlite Industries (India) Ltd. ( Vedanta Resources Plc. UK).

In a corporate career spanning over 35 years, Palani has had extremely varied experience in Marketing, Manufacturing, Operations and Enterprise Leadership, of which over 15 years has been as CEO and whole-time Managing Director. He is serving as non-executive independent Director on the Boards of reputed Indian companies and is adviser to leading Indian business schools and management consultancies. His vision and vast experience is a great asset to FOSTIIMA Business School. He is guiding the investments of a venture capital firm.