Know more about PK Singh: The new SAIL CMD

SAIL CMD PK Singh

FINALLY, state-owned steel maker SAIL (Steel Authority of India Limited) gets it new CMD. PK Singh, the CEO of Duragpur Steel Plant assumed charge as the new chairman of Steel Authority of India Limited. His appointment will fill up a key vacancy in top leadership at the country's largest state-owned domestic steel company. SAIL remained without a regular chief since June 11, 2015 when the Modi government refused to extend the term...
of the-then incumbent chairman CS Verma.
"Prakash Kumar Singh, 57, has taken charge as Chairman, SAIL today," SAIL said in a release.
Singh will hold the post for three years till attaining 60 years of age, as the chairman.
At the end of his five year tenure though, Verma was eligible for an extension till he attained the superannuation age of 60 years in September 2019. Rakesh Singh, secretary, ministry of steel took additional charge of the post of chairman, SAIL on June 11, 2015. After his retirement from service, MSME secretary Anup Pujari was given charge as chairman, SAIL on October 1, 2015.
An alumnus of IIT, Roorkee in Metallurgical Engineering, 57-year-old Singh started his career in SAIL at its Bokaro Steel Plant way back 1980. An expert in blast furnace technology and operations, Singh also worked in IISCO Steel Plant, Durgapur Steel Plant, Bokaro Steel Plant and Bhilai Steel Plant.
His immediate earlier stint was at Bhilai Steel Plant as Executive Director (Works) and prior to that he was Executive Director (Works) at IISCO Steel Plant.
Singh's name was shortlisted for the top job in SAIL after the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) selected him for the post in August 2015. The position of SAIL chairman, a top profile corporate appointments within PSUs, had attracted nearly a dozen-odd candidates.
His leadership quality took to the position of the CEO, Durgapur Steel Plant in May, 2012. A technocrat par excellence, Singh is regarded as an expert in blast furnace technology and operations. His motivational leadership is unique and beyond comparison.
With multifaceted experience ranging from planning, manufacturing, execution, quality control, supply chain and administration, Singh is a firm believer in employee empowerment and nurturing talents.
With right blend of technical expertise and his leadership abilities, it is expected that SAIL will benefit by way of faster stabilization and ramping up of its new facilities.
Singh has undergone various specialized training programmes in India and abroad. With his natural flair for nurturing and cultivating innovation and out-of-the-box thinking, Singh’s business acumen in identifying new business opportunities for accelerated growth is commendable.
He has been conferred with various awards viz. ‘Jawahar’ award for outstanding performance at ISP, Burrnpur. ‘Industry Leader’ award conferred by CMERI (CSIR), Durgapur, ‘Industry Leadership’ award conferred by the Institution of Engineers, Durgapur, ‘Best CEO’ award for the Eastern region conferred by the Quality Circle Forum of India, Durgapur Chapter.
An avid reader and a writer as well, Singh has contributed many technical papers on emerging technologies and challenges in steel industry. It will interesting to see how under his able leadership, SAIL will gain new heights.
SAIL is India's largest steel producing company. With a turnover of Rs. 50,627 crore in the year 2014-15, the Maharatna PSU has five integrated steel plants, three special plants, and one subsidiary in different parts of the country.