Manoj Kumar Sharma has been appointed as Director (Projects) of GAIL (India) Limited, bringing more than three decades of experience in the oil and gas sector.
GAIL (India) Limited has appointed Manoj Kumar Sharma as its new Director (Projects). Sharma is currently an Executive Director at Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) nominated Sharma for the position through a letter dated September 17, 2026. His tenure will begin from the date he assumes charge. It will continue until his superannuation on April 30, 2031, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
GAIL’s Board approved his appointment as an Additional Director at its meeting held on September 18, 2026. The appointment will take effect from the date Sharma assumes charge as Director (Projects). GAIL has also disclosed the nomination on its official website.
GAIL Director Projects: Sharma’s Professional Background
Sharma holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, specialising in Production and Industrial Engineering, from Delhi College of Engineering. He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management from Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar.
He has more than 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. His expertise covers design and engineering, project management, procurement, construction management, operations and maintenance.
His experience includes work across crude oil, petroleum products, LPG and natural gas pipeline networks.
Experience at IOCL
Before joining GAIL, Sharma served as Executive Director and Regional Head of Eastern Region Pipelines at IOCL.
In this role, he handled operations and maintenance, construction and city gas distribution businesses across five states. The region covered a pipeline network of more than 5,700 km.
Sharma also served as Executive Director (Projects) in IOCL’s Pipelines Division. He was responsible for engineering, procurement and construction management of major oil, LPG and natural gas pipeline projects in India and overseas.
Board-Level and Project Experience
Sharma has also served as a nominee director representing IOCL on the boards of GSPL India Transco Limited, GSPL India Gasnet Limited and Kochi Salem Pipeline Private Limited.
His professional experience includes project execution, business development, operational management, cost optimisation and board-level governance.
The appointment adds an experienced project and pipeline professional to GAIL’s senior management. GAIL operates across the natural gas value chain, including gas transmission and marketing, LPG, LNG, city gas distribution and renewable energy initiatives.
Source: PSU Watch
