Roy and Shanker lead ONGC chairman race
In the final lap of the ONGC chairman race Oil India director HR and business development Biswajit Roy and ONGC director technical and field services Shashi Shanker are pulling out in front of competitors.
On (Monday) June 19 the PESB will interview nine candidates to select a replacement for outgoing DK Sarraf who steps down on September 30. "Roy is talked about in particular because he is the only candidate who has worked with a refining and fuel retailing company," says an ONGC source.
"This would help him manage the government's plans to sell HPCL to ONGC." Roy was executive director (human resources) at IndianOil before beginning his current Oil India job in May 2015. "He has extensive experience in marketing and operations," confirms an IOC source.
"He worked at our Dubai office for two years." At Oil India, Roy also gained valuable E&P experience. "Oil India opened an office in Houston to look after its acreage during Roy's term," says a colleague.
Last year he also played a key role in the acquisition of Oil India's 8% stake in the Vankor and North Vankor producing oilfields from Rosneft. Shanker meanwhile is the only ONGC director eligible to win the post.
But some fear even if he is selected he will be haunted by his suspension in February 2015 over misconduct allegations for which he was eventually cleared.
