Who is Alka Mittal? Meet ONGC’s first woman Chairman and Managing Director

Alka Mittal has been named as the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation’s (ONGC) interim chairperson and managing director, succeeding Subhash Kumar, who retired on December 31. Mittal will serve as ONGC’s first female Chairman and Managing Director for six months from January 1 or until a regular incumbent is appointed, whichever comes first.

“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas for entrusting additional charge of the post of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), ONGC to Alka Mittal, Director (HR), ONGC for a period of six months with effect from January 1, 2022, or until the appointment of a regular incumbent to the post, or until further order, whichever is the earliest,” the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said

Shashi Shanker, ONGC’s final full-time director, retired on March 31, 2021, and no replacement has been found. Subhash Kumar was granted the additional role of chairman and managing director as a result of his seniority on the PSU’s board of directors.

Who is Alka Mittal?

Mittal, the first woman to join the Maharatna PSU’s board of directors, shattered the metaphorical glass ceiling on November 27, 2018. According to her LinkedIn profile, she holds a master’s degree in economics from MKPPG College in Dehradun and a PhD in commerce from Jamia Millia Islamia.

Indian state-owned enterprises (PSUs) have women CEOs

Mittal isn’t the only woman on the ONGC board of directors; Pomila Jaspal was named Director by the Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB) (Finance). ONGC’s Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd now employ Jaspal as Director (Finance) (MRPL).

Two women are in charge of public sector companies in the oil and gas industry (PSUs). On September 1, 2021, Alka Mittal became the first woman to lead an Indian oil and gas exploration and production business, while Vartika Shukla became the first woman to lead an engineering consultancy company, Engineers India Limited (EIL).

Nishi Vasudeva was the first woman to lead an oil refinery and gasoline marketing corporation when she took over Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) in 2014.