Ramesh Kumar Juneja takes over as new chairman of Council for Leather Exports

In a significant move for India’s leather sector, Ramesh Kumar Juneja has officially assumed the chairmanship of the Council for Leather Exports (CLE). Formerly the organization’s Vice Chairman, Juneja took charge during the 184th meeting of the Committee of Administration held in Chennai on January 6, 2026. The transition marks a significant leadership shift for the Council, which serves as India’s leading export promotion body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

A veteran entrepreneur with over forty years of experience, Juneja is widely recognized for his role in modernizing India's leather manufacturing landscape. As the founder of the JC Group, he pioneered international retail partnerships in the 1980s, positioning the firm as a nominated tanner for global brands before expanding into finished leather products and footwear. His business portfolio has since grown to include Indotan Chemicals and Juneja Infrastructure, reflecting a career defined by diverse industrial growth and strategic innovation.

Juneja’s ascent to the chairmanship follows more than fifteen years of service on the CLE Board, including a decade-long tenure as the Regional Chairman of the Eastern Region beginning in 2014. Since becoming National Vice Chairman in April 2024, he has been a key architect in the industry’s push toward record-breaking export figures, particularly within the leather goods and safety wear segments.

His influence extends into international trade and regional infrastructure development. Currently serving as the Vice Chairman of the Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce, Juneja has been a central figure in facilitating bilateral investments between Italy and India across the railway, food, and infrastructure sectors. Furthermore, his leadership as the former President of the Calcutta Leather Complex Tanners’ Association was instrumental in securing an ₹800 crore investment from the West Bengal government to upgrade effluent treatment and infrastructure at the complex, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the region's tanning industry.