Leadership

Board Of Directors

  • SHRI SAMIR S. SOMAIYAChairman & Managing Director

    Samir Shantilal Somaiya is the Chairman and Managing Director of our Company. He holds a bachelor’s degree in science from Cornell University, a masters’ degree in chemical engineering and a masters’ degree in business administration from Cornell University, and a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University.

    He has over 28 years of experience in the chemicals industry. Prior to joining the Company, he was associated with Somaiya Organo-Chemicals Limited as a managing director. He has been conferred with various awards including the Annual Chapter award for Scholastic Achievement by the American Institute of Chemical Engineer in 1988, the Student Award Certificate by the American Institute of Chemists Foundation in 1990, the Lala Shriram National award for leadership in chemical industry by the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers in 2022, the Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy award in 2022, the Industry Excellence award by The Sugar Technologists’ Association of India in 2023, the Sakhar Udyog Gaurav Puraskar by the Deccan Sugar Technologists’ Association (India) Pune in 2023, the Qimpro Gold Standard award for Education by the Qimpro Foundation in 2023 and the Sugar & Ethanol International award as philanthropist of the Sugar Industry in 2024.

  • PROF. M. LAKSHMI KANTAMIndependent Director

    Lakshmi Kantam Mannepalli is an Independent Director of our Company. She holds a bachelors’ degree of science from Andhra University, a masters’ degree of science in chemistry and a doctor of philosophy degree in chemistry from Kurukshetra University. She has been associated with our Company since November 28, 2017 and has several years of experience in the studies of chemical sciences and technology. Prior to joining the Company, she was associated with Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad as a member of the board of governors and CSIR -Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad as a director. She currently holds the position of adjunct professor at Tezpur University and is the Dr. B. P. Godrej Distinguished Professor of Green Chemistry and Sustainability Engineering at Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai. She was also elected as a fellow of the Indian National Science Academy and National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences, India and admitted as a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2013 and has authored several chapters in books and published various patent applications.

  • Dr. Sangeeta SrivastavaExecutive Director

    Sangeeta Arunkumar Srivastava is an Executive Director of our Company. She holds a bachelor’s degree in science and a masters’ degree of science in chemistry from Doctor Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, a masters’ degree of philosophy in chemistry from Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur, and a doctor of philosophy in science from University of Mumbai. She has over 29 years of experience in the research and development. Prior to joining the Company, she was associated with Somaiya Organo-Chemicals Limited as a General Manager (Corporate R&D)..

  • MR. KUMAR L. DESAIIndependent Director

    Mr. Kumar L. Desai has been associated as an advocate with Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa since 30th September 1977.

    He has huge experience in handling cases in Bombay High Court, other high courts and in The Supreme Court of India.

    Apart from this he has also represented in various Tribunals such as National Company Law Tribunal (erstwhile Company Law Board), The Trademark and Copyrights Boards and Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT).

    He has also appeared for Security and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and in other matters against SEBI.

    During his continuous legal practice he has handled cases pertaining to Writs, Company Law Matters, Intellectual Property, Commercial Law and Securities Law.

  • SHRI BHALACHANDRA R. BAKSHIExecutive Director

    Bhalachandra Bakshi is an Executive Director of our Company. He holds a bachelors’ degree of science in agriculture from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. He has been associated with our Company since January 1, 2011 in various capacities and has several years of experience in the agricultural industry.

  • MR HEMANT LUTHRANon-Executive Independent Director

    Hemant Luthra is an Independent Director of our Company. He holds a bachelors’ degree of technology in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. Prior to joining the Company, he was associated with Mahindra CIE Automative Ltd as chairman and chief executive officer, Mahindra Forgings Limited and Mahindra Composites Limited as a chairman.

  • SHRI SANJAY PURINon-Executive Independent Director

    Sanjay Puri is an Independent Director of our Company. He holds a marksheet for part II examination for bachelor’s degree in science from University of Calcutta and masters of management degree from Northwestern University. He has been associated with our Company since August 1, 2020 and has over 29 years of experience in the finance industry. Prior to joining the Company, he was associated with the International Finance Corporation as the chief investment officer. He is also the chief finance officer of Pantheum Inc.

  • Nitin MehtaIndependent Director

    Nitin Mehta is an Independent Director of our Company. He holds a bachelors’ degree in technology in chemical engineering from Banaras Hindu University, and a post graduate diploma in management from Management Development Institute, Gurgaon. He has experience in consumer business industry globally. Prior to joining the Company, he was associated with L’Oreal Bangladesh Limited as a managing director and Olam International Limited as a vice president (profit centre head-pasta) in Nigeria.

  • Suhas Uttam GodageDirector (Works- Sakarwadi)

    Suhas Uttam Godage is the Director (Works – Sakarwadi) of our Company. He holds a bachelors’ degree of science from University of Pune, masters’ degree of business administration in marketing management from Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Nashik and has completed a post graduate diploma programme in industrial fermentation & alcohol technology from Vasantdada Sugar Institute. He has been associated with our Company in various capacities since 2009 and has over 26 years of experience in the chemicals industry. Prior to joining the Company, he was associated with Somaiya Organo-Chemicals Limited as a distillery chemist.

  • Dr. Raman RamachandranNon- Executive Director

    Raman Ramachandran is the Non-Executive Director of our Company. He holds a bachelor’s degree in science (agriculture) from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, a master’s degree of science in entomology from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi and a doctor of philosophy from University of Adelaide. He has been associated with our Company since November 30, 2023. He was previously associated with BASF India Limited as chairman and managing director and PI Industries Limited as a director..