GAIL director BD job attracts 38 hopefuls

Expect interviews soon for the vacant post of GAIL director business development.

"The (PESB) short list will be ready by the month-end," confirms a source. "Interviews will most likely be in June."

A staggering 38 hopefuls sent in CVs by the January 27 deadline, hoping to fill the position left vacant since October 1 last year when AK Purwaha became Engineers India chairman and managing director. As the title implies, GAIL's new director BD will be responsible for strategic planning and finding new business opportunities to grow the company.

Many believe executive director marketing (gas) Rajeev Mathur, promoted from general manager just last month, has a much better chance than before of winning. "Mathur has been handling business development and gas sourcing and marketing," says an insider.

"He should get the post." Mathur last applied for a board level position in October, but failed to make headway.

"PESB must have felt Mathur was too junior (as a general manager) when he appeared for the director marketing interviews," we hear. "His new rank (executive director) has changed that perception."

Another strong candidate is executive director business development S. Venkatraman who, we are told, has an advantage over other candidates as he is already in the department and knows how it functions.

Most senior of all the applicants is GAIL executive director petrochemicals CN Trivedi, who GAIL insiders believe has begun networking to win the post. "Trivedi knows GAIL's petrochemical business well," says a source.

"He has contributed to its growth." Trivedi used to be based at GAIL's petrochemical complex at Pata in Uttar Pradesh, but has now moved to the Delhi office.

He has held ED rank for close to 10 years. Finally, ED marketing (petrochemicals) J.

Wason is also said to be interested in the director BD post. http://www.petrowatch.com/ongc.

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