Mathur leads the race for GAIL director posts
Mahanagar Gas chief Rajeev Mathur is again being talked of as a front-runner for the GAIL director business development or marketing posts - both likely to be advertised by the PESB this month (August).
The director BD post has been vacant since S. Venkatraman retired in September 2014 while the director marketing post has been vacant since Prabhat Singh left GAIL on August 10 to join Petronet-LNG as its new chief to replace AK Balyan.
"Expect the same candidates to apply for both posts," says a GAIL source. "At least 11 executive directors are expected to apply." Mathur, who lost to Sanjib Datta in the last selection for the business development post later scrapped, is said to be the clear favourite for either post.
"Mathur or Datta are best for the BD post," we hear. "It requires knowledge of international gas markets and experience in scouting for global deals.
Mathur also has the most experience to become director marketing. He has always done marketing." An engineer with a MBA in marketing management, friends say Mathur has hands-on experience of sourcing R-LNG and domestic gas.
Not far behind is GAIL executive director marketing Gajendra Singh who has strong political connections and is also expected to apply. Last year Singh famously scuppered Datta's selection as director BD after filing a complaint.