THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, MAY 9, 2026

Dr. Ashok Kumar Panda has assumed charge as Chairman & Managing Director of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) on Saturday. Prior to this, he served as Director (Finance) of the Company and also held the additional charge of Director (Commercial) for nearly nine months during the period.

Dr. Panda began his journey with SAIL as a Management Trainee (Technical) in 1992 after completing his B.E. in Electrical Engineering. Over the years, he steadily rose through the ranks to the highest leadership position in the Company, reflecting unwavering dedication, perseverance, and distinguished service spanning more than three decades. He has handled diverse responsibilities across multiple Plants and Units, acquiring extensive expertise in operational, financial, and commercial domains.

During his tenure as Director (Finance), Dr. Panda led several strategic initiatives focused on improving operational efficiency and enhancing overall profitability. His efforts included driving technical interventions, boosting production levels through product basket enrichment, and revamping key policies across Operations, Sales & Marketing, Human Resources, and Finance.

As Director (Commercial), he played a pivotal role in aligning operations with market and financial objectives, with a focused approach toward improving volumes, enhancing Net Sales Realisation (NSR), reducing inventory levels, and strengthening product branding.

A people-centric leader, Dr. Panda is widely admired for his inclusive leadership style and strong execution capabilities. His ability to build high-performing teams and drive results has remained a defining feature of his career. Upon assuming charge as CMD, SAIL, Dr. Panda outlined the Company’s immediate priorities. He stated:

“SAIL is on track for its next phase of capacity expansion to 35 MTPA. Alongside expansion, we will continue to place the highest priority on safety across all our workplaces. Strengthening raw material security through enhanced domestic mining and exploration of overseas assets will be critical to support our growth ambitions. At the same time, we are committed to expanding our market reach with a sharper focus on value-added products, strengthening our brand connect and ensuring sustained value creation for all stakeholders.”