Bira founder Ankur Jain steps down from the leadership of the company in principle, following months of intense negotiations with investors, according to media reports. Discussions are now in an advanced stage and are expected to conclude soon, paving the way for the induction of external professional leadership at the financially stressed beer maker.
The proposed transition would see Jain relinquish control to help unlock potential rescue funding and stabilise operations.
Investor Pressure Drives Leadership Transition
For much of the past year, investors and shareholders have been pressing for a change in leadership at Bira’s parent company, B9 Beverages. People familiar with the matter said that any revival or fresh capital infusion was made contingent on the move—making Bira founder Ankur Jain steps down a central demand during negotiations.
Jain was reportedly reluctant to step aside initially, but the prolonged absence of new funding intensified pressure on both the company and its founder.
Financial Stress and Mounting Liabilities
The urgency behind Bira founder Ankur Jain steps down has been compounded by financial challenges. Reports indicate that Jain had earlier borrowed funds to buy Bira shares from existing investors, leading to growing personal liabilities.
In one case, an entity linked to Jain borrowed money from a trust associated with Sunil Munjal, pledging Jain’s Bira shares as collateral. These shares were invoked in October, adding to the strain.
Separately, Bira has reportedly failed to deposit employee TDS payments with tax authorities for over six months, highlighting deeper cash-flow issues.
Narrow Window for Operational Recovery
Investors believe Bira founder Ankur Jain steps down could be critical to enabling a turnaround. With summer being the peak season for beer sales in India, the company would need to be operationally stable well before mid-2026 to capitalise on demand.
Delays in leadership resolution risk shrinking this recovery window further.
Employee Unrest and Governance Concerns
Internal challenges have also escalated. In October, over 250 employees submitted a petition to Bira’s board and key investors—including Kirin Holdings and Peak XV Partners—calling for Jain’s removal.
The petition cited governance lapses, lack of transparency, delayed salaries, statutory non-compliance, unpaid vendor dues, and creditor disputes. These developments further amplified investor concerns leading to Bira founder Ankur Jain steps down discussions.
Financial Performance Under Pressure
B9 Beverages reported a net loss of ₹748 crore in FY24 on revenues of ₹638 crore, while sales volumes declined sharply to around 6–7 million cases from 9 million cases in FY23. The company has yet to file its FY25 financial results, adding to uncertainty around its financial position.
Recent Leadership Restructuring
In July 2025, Bira announced a leadership restructuring, appointing Vikram Qanungo as Chief Financial Officer, along with senior hires across manufacturing and sales. These moves were seen as early steps toward operational stabilisation ahead of Bira founder Ankur Jain steps down.
The Bottom Line
Bira founder Ankur Jain steps down marks a pivotal moment for one of India’s most prominent craft beer brands. With investors pushing for professional leadership and financial discipline, the leadership transition could determine whether Bira is able to secure fresh capital and engineer a turnaround in the coming year.
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