Just Dial CEO – VSS Mani (Age – 59)

Just Dial Limited, often called India’s Google for local search, was founded in 1996 by VSS Mani (Venkatachalam Sthanu Subramani Mani) with just Rs 50,000 in a small office in Malad, Mumbai. Today, Just Dial CEO VSS Mani continues to lead the company as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, even after Reliance Retail Ventures acquired a controlling 66.95% stake in 2021 for Rs 3,497 crore. Under Mani’s leadership, Just Dial has grown from a simple telephone-based business directory into India’s largest hyperlocal search engine, serving millions of users across 250+ cities and 11,000+ pin codes. The company is publicly traded on the NSE (JUSTDIAL) and BSE (535648), with a market capitalization of approximately Rs 5,300 crore as of February 2026.

Read on to discover Just Dial CEO email address, VSS Mani net worth in 2026, salary and compensation, career history, wife & family, and more.

VSS Mani Just Dial CEO

VSS Mani – Quick Facts

VSS Mani — At a Glance
Full Name Venkatachalam Sthanu Subramani Mani
Position Founder, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer
Company Just Dial Ltd (NSE: JUSTDIAL / BSE: 535648)
Age 59–60 years (born 1966)
Education Commerce & Chartered Accountancy (incomplete), University of Delhi
Net Worth (2026 est.) ~$60–70 Million (Rs 500–600 Cr)
Annual Compensation ~Rs 2.5 Crore (FY2025)
CEO Since 1996 (Founder)
Majority Owner Reliance Retail Ventures (74.15% promoter group)
Email [email protected]
Headquarters Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Just Dial Competitors

Just Dial, India’s largest hyperlocal search engine and B2B marketplace, faces intense competition from both established tech giants and emerging platforms:

  • Google Maps / Google My Business – dominant global local search platform
  • IndiaMART – India’s largest B2B marketplace for SMEs
  • Sulekha – local services marketplace for home and business needs
  • TradeIndia – B2B marketplace connecting Indian manufacturers and exporters
  • Practo – healthcare-focused local search and booking platform
  • Zomato – food and restaurant discovery platform
  • Yellow Pages India – traditional business directory, now digital
  • ClickIndia – free classifieds and local business listings

VSS Mani Net Worth 2026 – Just Dial CEO Salary

As of 2026, VSS Mani’s net worth is estimated at approximately $60–70 million USD (Rs 500–600 crore), based on his remaining shareholding in Just Dial and the proceeds from the 2021 Reliance Retail acquisition. During that landmark deal, Reliance paid Rs 1,332 crore directly to Mani for his shares. He still holds approximately 7.76% of Just Dial’s outstanding shares, valued at roughly Rs 400+ crore at current market prices. Earlier estimates in 2015 placed his net worth at $320–350 million when Just Dial’s market cap was significantly higher.

Just Dial CEO Compensation Breakdown (FY2025)

Component Amount (Rs) Share
Base Salary Rs 2.50 Crore 100%
Annual Bonus / Incentives Nil 0%
Stock Options / Awards Nil 0%
TOTAL ~Rs 2.50 Crore (~$300K) 100%
Key Insight: Unlike many tech CEOs, VSS Mani draws a relatively modest salary of approximately Rs 2.50 crore per year with no bonuses or stock-based compensation. His real wealth comes from his ~7.76% shareholding in Just Dial and the Rs 1,332 crore he received from Reliance Retail during the 2021 acquisition.

Just Dial Net Worth 2026 – Is Just Dial Profitable?

Yes, Just Dial is a highly profitable company. Under CEO VSS Mani, the company has delivered exceptional financial results, with net profit surging 61% year-over-year in FY2025 to Rs 584 crore. Just Dial’s revenue grew 9.5% to Rs 1,142 crore, and the company maintains a strong cash position with significant treasury income alongside its core operating business.

Just Dial Financial Summary (FY2025)

Metric Value YoY Change
Market Capitalization ~Rs 5,300 Cr (~$630M)
Annual Revenue Rs 1,142 Cr ▲ 9.5%
Operating Profit Rs 335 Cr ▲ 54%
Net Profit Rs 584 Cr ▲ 61%
EPS Rs 68.70 ▲ 61%
ROE 6.18%
Employees ~12,500
NSE / BSE Ticker JUSTDIAL / 535648
Profit Surge: Just Dial reported a 61% jump in net profit to Rs 584 crore in FY2025, driven by strong operating leverage and significant treasury income. The company has achieved 150% compounded profit growth over the last three years under the Reliance ownership umbrella.

Just Dial CEO Email Address | VSS Mani Contact

Below are the official contact details and social media profiles for Just Dial CEO VSS Mani. Note that Mani is known to maintain a low public profile and is not active on mainstream social media platforms.

Contact Information
Email Address [email protected]
Twitter/X Not active on Twitter/X
LinkedIn mani vss – justdial
Corporate HQ Palm Court Bldg M, 501/B, 5th Floor, New Link Road, Malad (W), Mumbai – 400064
Customer Helpline +91 888 888 8888
General Inquiries [email protected]

Career & Education – Company, University, & College

VSS Mani’s entrepreneurial journey is one of India’s most inspiring business stories. From losing his father at a young age and dropping out of college due to financial hardship, Mani went on to build one of India’s most recognized internet companies. Below is his complete career timeline:

VSS Mani Career Timeline

Period Role Company
1987–1989 Sales Executive United Database India Pvt Ltd
1989–1992 Co-Founder AskMe Services (Delhi)
1992–1996 Entrepreneur (multiple ventures) Various (incl. wedding planner magazine)
1996–Present Founder, MD & CEO Just Dial Ltd

VSS Mani began his career in 1987 as a salesperson at United Database India Private Limited, a yellow pages company, after his father’s sudden death forced him to abandon his Chartered Accountancy studies. In 1989, he co-founded AskMe Services in Delhi — India’s first phone-based business directory — alongside other partners with an initial investment of Rs 25 lakhs. However, the venture failed due to poor telephone penetration and high call rates at the time.

After several years of trying various business ideas without success, Mani launched Just Dial in 1996 with only Rs 50,000, borrowed furniture, rented computers, and five employees in a small Malad office. The company started as a telephone-based local search engine, then expanded to the web in 1997 when Mani booked the domain justdial.com. Just Dial went public in a successful IPO in May 2013, listing on both the NSE and BSE. In 2021, Reliance Retail Ventures acquired a controlling stake, and Mani continued as MD and CEO.

Education

University Degree / Program Website
University of Delhi B.Com & CA Articleship (incomplete — dropped out due to financial hardship) du.ac.in

VSS Mani enrolled at the University of Delhi to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce degree alongside Chartered Accountancy articleship. However, the sudden passing of his father left his family in severe financial difficulty, forcing Mani to drop out and take up employment. Despite being a college dropout, Mani went on to build one of India’s most successful internet companies.

VSS Mani Wiki – Age, Family, & More

Just Dial CEO VSS Mani (age 59–60, born 1966) was born at the Tata Main Hospital in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. He currently lives in Mumbai with his wife Anita Mani and their two children. The couple are also creative collaborators — they wrote the screenplay, story, and dialogues for the Bollywood film Baankey Ki Crazy Baraat (2015), with Anita serving as the film’s producer. Anita Mani also serves as a non-executive director on the Just Dial board.

Notable Achievements & Recognitions

  • Built “Indian Google” – Turned Rs 50,000 into a Rs 5,000+ crore publicly-listed company
  • Successful IPO (2013) – Listed Just Dial on NSE and BSE; the stock debuted at a significant premium
  • Reliance Deal (2021) – Negotiated a Rs 3,497 crore acquisition deal with Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Retail
  • Pioneer of Local Search – Launched India’s first telephone-based local search engine in 1996, years before Google entered India
  • Expanded to Digital – Transformed Just Dial from a phone service to a full-stack digital platform (web, mobile app, JD Mart B2B)
  • Bollywood Screenwriter – Co-wrote the screenplay for the film Baankey Ki Crazy Baraat with his wife Anita

Mani is known for his humble lifestyle despite his wealth. He is a self-made entrepreneur who overcame early hardships — dropping out of college, losing his father young, and enduring multiple business failures — before building Just Dial into a household name in India.

About Just Dial

Just Dial Limited is an Indian internet company headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Founded in 1996 by VSS Mani (originally as A&M Communications), the company is India’s largest hyperlocal search engine and online marketplace, providing information services for businesses and consumers across multiple platforms — phone, web, mobile app, and SMS.

Service / Platform Description
JustDial Search Local business search via phone (8888888888), web, and mobile app
JD Mart (B2B) B2B marketplace for product cataloging, sourcing, and wholesale transactions
JD Ratings & Reviews User-generated reviews and ratings for local businesses
Paid Campaigns Premium listing and promotional services for businesses across India

Just Dial is listed on both the National Stock Exchange (JUSTDIAL) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (535648). The company operates across 250+ cities, covering 11,000+ pin codes in India. Following the 2021 acquisition, Reliance Retail Ventures Limited holds a controlling 74.15% promoter stake (as of December 2025), with VSS Mani continuing as Managing Director and CEO. The company employs approximately 12,500 people.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who is the current CEO of Just Dial?

The current CEO of Just Dial is VSS Mani (Venkatachalam Sthanu Subramani Mani), who founded the company in 1996 and continues to serve as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. He retained his leadership position even after Reliance Retail Ventures acquired a controlling stake in 2021.

What is VSS Mani’s net worth in 2026?

As of 2026, VSS Mani’s net worth is estimated at approximately $60–70 million (Rs 500–600 crore). This includes the Rs 1,332 crore he received from selling shares to Reliance Retail in 2021 and his remaining ~7.76% stake in Just Dial, valued at approximately Rs 400+ crore at current market prices.

What is Just Dial CEO’s salary?

VSS Mani’s total annual compensation is approximately Rs 2.50 crore (~$300,000 USD), which is entirely base salary with no bonuses or stock-based incentives. This is considered modest for a CEO of a publicly-listed tech company in India. His primary wealth comes from his shareholding in Just Dial.

What is Just Dial CEO’s email address?

Just Dial CEO VSS Mani’s email address is [email protected]. He is not active on Twitter or other mainstream social media platforms. He can be found on LinkedIn. For general inquiries, contact [email protected] or call +91 888 888 8888.

Is Just Dial owned by Reliance?

Yes, Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, led by Mukesh Ambani) acquired a controlling 66.95% stake in Just Dial in July 2021 for Rs 3,497 crore. As of December 2025, the promoter group (including Reliance) holds 74.15% of Just Dial. Despite the acquisition, founder VSS Mani continues as Managing Director and CEO of the company.

Is Just Dial a profitable company?

Yes, Just Dial is highly profitable. In FY2025 (ending March 2025), the company reported net profit of Rs 584 crore, a 61% increase year-over-year. Revenue stood at Rs 1,142 crore with 9.5% growth. The company has achieved 150% compounded profit growth over the last three years.

Article last updated:February 2026March 2, 2026

Disclaimer: All information presented in this article has been compiled from publicly available sources, including NSE/BSE filings, official company press releases, and reputable news outlets. Net worth figures are estimates and may vary by source. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.