Rakesh Kumar has been recommended for the post of Director (Operations) at Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL), a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG). The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) panel recommended his name on October 9, 2026. Kumar currently serves as General Manager (Technical Services) at Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).
Rakesh Kumar Selected from Nine Candidates
The PESB panel recommended Kumar for the position after interviewing nine candidates during its selection meeting held on October 9. The candidates included senior officials from Indian Oil, CPCL and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).
Among the candidates from Indian Oil were Kondapalli Siva Rama Rao, Chief General Manager and CEO of IOLPL; M. Sankar, Chief General Manager in the Chairman’s Secretariat; and Muralidhar S, Chief General Manager (LPG), Karnataka State Office.
CPCL officials considered for the position included Purushotham, Chief General Manager (Corporate Planning and Business Development), and Thullibilli Kishor Babu, General Manager (Operations).
The other candidates were Om Prasad Chetry, General Manager-in-Charge (HR) at Indian Oil; Bhishmadev Mandal, Chief General Manager (Production) and In-Charge of Specialist Pool Management at ONGC; and Om Prakash, General Manager-in-Charge (Operations and Maintenance Contracts), Specialist Pool Management, Ahmedabad Asset, ONGC.
Appointment Subject to Government Approval
Kumar’s appointment will take effect subject to the requisite government approval and completion of other applicable formalities. Once appointed, he will succeed P Kannan, who has served as Director (Operations) at CPCL since August 1, 2023.
Role to Cover Refinery Operations and Maintenance
As Director (Operations), Kumar will join CPCL’s Board of Directors and report to the Managing Director. His responsibilities will include overseeing refinery operations and maintenance, along with supporting functions such as power, utilities, technical services, health, safety, environment, quality control, and research and development.
The role covers key operational and technical functions that support the company’s refinery activities and associated services.
