Dr Ashok Kumar Panda has been appointed Chairman and Managing Director of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) after the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) recommended his name in a selection meeting held on Saturday.
Dr Panda brings over three decades of experience in SAIL, having worked across multiple plants and units since joining as a Management Trainee in 1992. His expertise spans financial accounting, budgeting, taxation, treasury operations, and strategic management.
Currently serving as Director (Finance), Dr Panda also holds the additional charge of Director (Commercial) since April 2025. He played a pivotal role in strengthening SAIL’s financial health through initiatives such as deleveraging, cost optimisation, tax planning, digital invoicing, and policy reforms.
His academic credentials include a degree in Electrical Engineering, a PGDM in Finance from XIM Bhubaneswar, and a PhD in Business Finance. Recognised for excellence, he received the Jawahar Award for Cost Management and contributed significantly to mining, plant operations, and project management alongside his finance leadership.
