Three names sent for ONGC director strategy
Within months, ONGC should have its first-ever director strategy and corporate affairs.
After interviews on June 22 (2024), the search committee sent its recommendations to the oil ministry for the position. "Instead of just one name, the search committee has recommended three names," says a source.
According to rumours, ONGC executive director and chief production JV assets & BD, Ajay Ratan, is the first name on the list. Next is ONGC group general manager Arunangshu Sarkar, who is looking after the Bassein & Sattelite Asset operations in the Mumbai Offshore.
Previously, he was head of corporate planning and strategy at ONGC Videsh and handled all corporate planning and business development matters with the oil ministry. Third on the list is Suman Kumar, executive director and head of E&P at IndianOil.
"I have not heard anything from the ministry or anywhere else," says a candidate who appeared for interviews. Another source says: "These are the names going around, but there is no confirmation from the oil ministry; these days, the search and selection committee recommends three names in case the approvals for the top-ranked candidate do not go through for any reason, there are others whose files can be sent for approval."
He explains the search committee does this to avoid repeating the lengthy process. On the search are ONGC chairman Arun Singh, PESB chairwoman Mallika Srinivasan, and oil secretary Pankaj Jain, who also heads the committee.
Others who appeared for interviews were Vinod Kumar Chaudhary, ONGC executive director and Chief Infocom Officer (CIO); Sanjay Parashar, executive director at IndianOil; Saurav Mitra, executive director and in-charge of internal audit at IndianOil; Nitin Kumar, chief general manager strategy at IndianOil; Sachchidanand Yadav, executive director (CBG) at GAIL; and Snighdo Majumdar, executive director heading business development at Engineers India. On January 4 (2024), the oil ministry published a 10-page vacancy notice with a February 5 (2024) deadline.
Whoever wins will remain for five years or until retirement, whichever comes first.