Nishi Vasudeva becomes first woman to head a navratna company

NEW DELHI: The first woman to head a navratna public sector unit (PSU), Nishi Vasudeva on Wednesday became the head of state-owned oil major Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL).

Vasudeva, 57, is currently director, marketing, HPCL, and will take over as the chair- man and managing director of the company from Subir Roy Choudhury, who retires on February 28, 2014.

selected her after interviewing seven shortlisted candidates including P K Joshi, Director (Human Resources), HPCL.

“The Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB) recommended the following name for the post of chairman and managing director, HPCL — Nishi Vasudeva,” the PESB said on its website.

In July 2007, Vasudeva became the first women to make it to the board of the cash-rich oil PSU.

The PESB’s recommendation will now go the oil ministry and following oil minister M Veerappa Moily’s consent, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the Central Bureau of India (CBI) will give their clearances. Her candidature will then be forwarded to the Cabinet Committee on Appointments (ACC).

An IIM-Kolkata passout, Vasudeva began her career in the oil industry with Engineers India Ltd. She has a wide experience spanning over 36 years in various streams including marketing, corporate, strategy and planning and information system.