RK Krishna Kumar joined TAS in 1963, after graduating with a master's degree from the University of Madras. He was initially posted in Tata Industries, after which he moved to other Group companies. He joined Tata-Finlay and, from then on, became involved with the Group's tea and coffee businesses. His association with the plantation business began in 1982, when he was posted as vice president, South India Plantation Division, in Kochi. He moved to Kolkata as joint managing director, Tata Tea, in 1988 and became managing director in 1991.

Mr Krishna Kumar is currently a director on the Tata Sons board, chairman of Tata Coffee and Asian Coffee, and vice chairman of Tata Tea and Indian Hotels. He is a director in several enterprises including Rallis India, Watawala Plantations, Tata Tetley, and Tata Tea Incorporated, USA.