KOLKATA: Ansuman Das has been appointed as full-time CMD of National Aluminium Company Limited (Nalco) with effect from Friday, July 19, 2013. Mr Das has been acting as chairman-cum-managing director (CMD) of the country's largest state owned aluminium major since August 2012. He will be the company's first regular CMD in more than two years.
Earlier, ET had reported that the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) had recommended Ansuman Das as its top choice for the job of chairman and managing director of Nalco, paving the way for the appointment of a regular chief in more than two years.
Mr Das who graduated in Mechanical Engineering from REC, Rourkela, (now a National Institute of Technology) in 1976, and did his MBA from University of Hull, UK.
He started his career with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and joined Nalco in 1982 in the company's formative years as senior engineer in project and technical services, subsequently rising to the post of general manager (marketing). He was instrumental in formation of various marketing policies and strategies both for domestic and overseas sales and launched almost all the value added products of Nalco. He took over as director (commercial) of Nalco in October 2009.
Mr Das was also holding the additional charge of director (human resources) for a brief period in 2012, and now holds additional charge of director (finance).
Mr Das' appointment ends months of uncertainty about Nalco's top leadership. In the last few years, Nalco's top post has been riddled with controversies, with successive CMDs falling prey to corruption charges. In February 2011, A K Srivastava, then CMD, was charge-sheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and eventually removed form the top job. He was succeeded by B L Bagra, director (finance) as acting CMD. In August 2012, Bagra faced allegations of corruption and subsequently stepped down.
However, he was later reinstated as director finance. Earlier, C Venkatramana erstwhile CMD, had to step aside and his position was taken by C R Pradhan who retired as acting CMD.
