Four new faces on NTPC board by August 2010
India’s largest power generation company NTPC will have four new faces on its board by the end of August next year.
Advertisements appeared on the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) website on June 26 for a new technical director, a new human resources director on August 24, and on October 22, a new chairman and managing director, plus a new operations director. NTPC sources tell us it is too early to predict who will apply for the CMD post, but that between 20 and 25 internal candidates, including executive directors and general managers, are expected to apply for the important position of director operations.
“All eligible candidates with more than two years to retire are likely to apply,†says an NTPC source. These two key posts will fall vacant next year when present director operations Chandan Roy and present chairman RS Sharma both retire.
Chandan Roy has been director operations since January 1, 2004 and will retire on July 31 next year. His post is significant to gas producers and marketing companies because as director operations he is responsible for deciding which fuel supplies the company’s power stations: gas or liquid fuel.
“Roy’s first five-year term ended in January (this year),†we hear. “He was given an extension until retirement next year.
†RS Sharma has been chairman since May 1, 2008 and will retire on August 31 next year. Controversy erupted around Sharma’s appointment, as he was actually ranked second in PESB interviews in December 2007.
Number one was Chandan Roy, who had better credentials. But although Roy’s file was forwarded to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) by the PESB, power minister Sushilkumar Shinde abruptly and inexplicably overruled his appointment.
Candidates interested in applying either for the CMD or director operations post must apply by December 29.
