Arun Kumar Singh Is Appointed CEO Of ONGC

905
27 Jan 2023
5 min read

News Synopsis

Arun Kumar Singh, the former CEO of BPCL, was appointed chairman of ONGC, India's largest oil and gas producer, more than a month ago. As of today, the company also has Singh as its CEO.

A chairman and managing director have traditionally led Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). However, once Shashi Shanker retired on March 31, 2021, there was no full-time leadership.

Arun Kumar Singh, who had recently retired from his position as CEO of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), was appointed by the government on December 7 as the chairman of ONGC but not as its managing director.

He has now been given the additional position of company CEO. It is disclosed that Singh has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer  CEO by the Board at its meeting on January 24, 2023. Mr. Singh is therefore named the company's Chairman & CEO, according to ONGC's stock exchange filing.

A DoPT order states that Singh, 60, has been appointed for a three-year term beginning on the day he assumed responsibility for the position. He assumed charge on December 7, 2022.

A mechanical engineer from the National Institute of Technology, Patna, Singh was Director (Marketing) of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) from October 2018 to September 2021, after which he was appointed as chairman and managing director of the company.

13 months later, in October 2022, Singh stepped down as CEO of BPCL after turning 60 years old. This may be the first time a retired executive has been named head of a Maharatna PSU.

After examining six applicants on August 27, 2022, a search and selection committee appointed by the oil ministry decided on Singh. Before the interviews on August 27, Singh had already been selected to lead the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB).

He has led business divisions and entities in BPCL including retail, LPG, pipelines, and supply chain optimization during his nearly 38 years in the oil and gas industry.

According to information found on the BPCL website, he also held the post of President (Africa & Australasia) at Bharat PetroResources Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BPCL engaged in the exploration of oil and gas, primarily overseas.

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