Meet Manoj Kumar Sharma, PESB's Pick for GAIL Director (Projects)

New Delhi: Manoj Kumar Sharma, currently serving as Executive Director and Regional Head at Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), has been recommended by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) for appointment as Director (Projects) at GAIL (India) Limited, a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise.

The recommendation was made during PESB Meeting No. 46/2026 held on June 13, 2026.

Veteran Oil and Gas Executive

A seasoned industry professional, Manoj Kumar Sharma has built an extensive career in India's oil and gas sector through various leadership positions at Indian Oil Corporation. His experience in project management, operations, and strategic execution has made him one of the prominent executives in the energy industry.

If approved by the competent authority, Sharma will join the board of GAIL and oversee one of the company's most critical functions.

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Strong Competition for the Top Post

The selection process witnessed participation from 12 senior executives representing leading public sector enterprises and government organizations. The candidates interviewed by PESB included:

• Ajay Tripathi, Executive Director (PC-OM) and Officer In-Charge, Pata, GAIL (India) Limited.

• Aloke Kumar Naskar, Chief Executive Officer, GMPL, GAIL (India) Limited.

• Atul Kumar Tripathi, Executive Director (Projects), GAIL (India) Limited.

• Anupam Mukhopadhyay, Chief Executive Officer, GAIL (India) Limited.

• Kaipil Kumar Jain, Executive Director (Marketing-Retail LNG), GAIL (India) Limited.

• Praveer Kumar Srivastava, Managing Director, Mahanagar Gas Limited and Executive Director, GAIL (India) Limited.

• Rakesh Kumar Singh, Executive Director (O&M-Central Region) and Officer In-Charge, Vijaipur, GAIL (India) Limited.

• Manoj Kumar Sharma, Executive Director and Regional Head, Indian Oil Corporation Limited.

• Biju Gopinath, Executive Director (Pipelines), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL).

• Sanjay Kumar Papneja, Executive Director (Project-Process), Indian Oil Corporation Limited.

• Srinivas Muppaala, Development Commissioner, Visakhapatnam Special Economic Zone (VSEZ), Department of Commerce, Government of India.

• Anjan Kumar Mishra, Secretary, Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB).

Following the interviews, PESB recommended Manoj Kumar Sharma for the coveted board-level position.

Why Is the Director (Projects) Role Important?

Director (Projects) is one of the key functional director positions at GAIL (India) Limited. The role is responsible for driving the company's project execution strategy and overseeing expansion initiatives across:

• Natural gas pipelines

• Petrochemical projects

• Gas processing infrastructure

• Emerging energy businesses

• Future growth and capacity expansion plans

As India continues to strengthen its energy infrastructure and accelerate the transition towards cleaner fuels, the Director (Projects) plays a crucial role in supporting GAIL's long-term growth and the country's energy security objectives.

The appointment of Manoj Kumar Sharma is subject to the approval of the competent authority.