IGGL mid-level restructuring
Guwahati-based Indradhanush Gas Grid (IGGL) is undergoing a major middle management restructuring ahead of the proposed commissioning of the 1656-km North East Gas Grid by mid-2025.
A joint venture between Oil India, Numaligarh Refinery (NRL), ONGC, IndianOil and GAIL, IGGL aims to connect all northeast capitals with gas pipelines. Based in Guwahati, IndianOil projects general manager Gautam Das will most likely replace IGGL chief operating officer (COO) Pankaj Patowary in mid-October 2024.
Patowary has been a driving force at IGGL and is returning to ONGC, his parent company, where he is a CGM. "Patowary is moving to Mumbai as the head of onshore and offshore pipelines," says a source.
On September 10 (2024), former IGGL marketing in-charge Subrata Das became the CEO at IGGL. Das is on deputation from (Oil India subsidiary) NRL and replaced Ajit Kumar Thakur, who has returned to his parent company IndianOil, where he was promoted to ED earlier this year (2024).
"There's a broader restructuring plan," says a source. "McKinsey is doing the consulting."
McKinsey has already provided some pointers to the direction of travel at IGGL and is expected to develop a new structure with a more permanent middle management. IGGL's current leadership is selected on a rotation basis among the stakeholder companies.
Earlier this year (2024), Bhaskar Chowdary Nettam, a CGM from ONGC with a good understanding of the northeast, took over as IGGL chairman. Nettam chaired the last board meeting on September 25 (2024) amid the ongoing restructuring.
He replaced Anfor Ali Haque from Oil India. Patowary's exit will bring in, again by rotation, an IndianOil officer as COO.
"This may continue," we hear. "Or there could be a new structure with permanent leadership roles."