Arunachalam Vellayan, former Murugappa Group chairman, dies at 72

Arunachalam Vellayan, former chairman of the Murugappa Group and chairman emeritus of Coromandel International, died on Monday, November 17, after a prolonged illness, the Murugappa Group announced. He was 72.

Vellayan is survived by his wife, Lalitha Vellayan, his sons Arun Vellayan and Narayanan Vellayan, and his grandchildren, the company said in a statement.

A fourth-generation member of the Murugappa family, Vellayan played a pivotal role for several decades in shaping the group’s growth, providing strategic direction across its diversified businesses and strengthening its position as one of India’s most respected conglomerates.

He served on the boards of several Murugappa Group companies, including as chairman of Coromandel International Ltd and EID Parry Ltd. His board engagements also extended to organisations such as Kanoria Chemicals & Industries Ltd, EXIM Bank and Indian Overseas Bank.

Beyond the corporate world, Vellayan held leadership positions across key industry bodies, including the Southern India Chamber of Commerce, Fertiliser Association of India, Indian Sugar Mills Association and the All India Cycle Manufacturers Association. He also served as chairman of the board of governors at the Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode.

An alumnus of The Doon School and Shri Ram College of Commerce, Vellayan pursued further studies at Aston University and Warwick Business School in the UK. He was conferred honorary doctor of science (honoris causa) degrees by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and Aston University.

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