New Reliance: With Jio, Mukesh Ambani ushers in a brand new 'open office' culture

Mumbai: India’s richest man has stepped out of his plush corner office and embraced a cool new option - an open office designed in muted beige, crisp white and a dash of ochre. [caption id=“attachment_2495456” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Mukesh Ambani with confidant Manoj Modi[/caption] As one of India’s most powerful companies, Reliance Industries, gets ready to deliver its latest entity, the 4G services under the “Jio” brand, it has also brought with it a rather quiet, but telling transformation in the refining-to-retail group’s corporate culture. For the top executives leading a 17,500-strong, full-time team, including chairman Mukesh Ambani, gone are the wood-panelled, plush rooms. Not even closed glass-door cubicles. The top 70 leaders in the team, which includes his son Akash Ambani, daughter Isha Ambani and long-time associate and confidant Manoj Modi, are having to make do with a work station in an open office – a culture that started on Wednesday at the 7th Floor of what is called “PT 22 Building” of Reliance Corporate Park in Navi Mumbai. This, officials at Reliance said, was a part of what Mukesh Ambani had told shareholders about the “Jio” project some months ago: “One of the largest transformational, green-field digital initiatives anywhere in the world.” [caption id=“attachment_2495436” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  From left: Akash Ambani, Mukesh Ambani and Manoj Modi[/caption] “No walls, no barricades,” is how the officials additionally described the office of Jio venture, touted as the largest start-up project in India with an investment of Rs.100,000 crore already deployed. Mukesh Ambani has retained his position as India’s richest person for close to a decade. The $62.2 billion (revenues) firm is preparing for the launch of 4G services by its telecom arm Reliance Jio for which it has teamed up with Anil Ambani’s Reliance Communications. Mukesh Ambani’s wife Nita, who sits on Reliance’s board, is involved in Jio’s marketing plan. The power couple’s U.S.-educated twins, Akash and Isha, have board seats at Reliance’s telecom and retail units. Reliance Industries Ltd was incorporated in 1973 and petroleum products contribute 71.93% of this large cap’s total sales. (Disclosure: Firstpost is part of Network18 Media & Investment Limited which is owned by Reliance Industries Limited.) IANS