Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) recently appointed Alka Mittal as its interim chairman and managing director. Alka is the first woman to head ONGC, a government-owned corporation.
Having served at ONGC for over three decades now, Alka, a post-graduate in economics and a doctorate in commerce, replaces Subhash Kumar, who retired after superannuation last month.
The order from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) stated, “The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas for entrustment of an additional charge of the post of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), ONGC to Alka Mittal, Director (HR), ONGC for a period of six months with effect from January 1, 2022, or till the appointment of a regular incumbent to the post, or until further order, whichever is the earliest.”
Alka was the first woman to join the board in November 2018, breaking the glass ceiling.
As per news reports, before assuming the role of Director (HR), Alka was in charge of the chief skill development. During the tenure, she streamlined the activities and brought uniformity in the working of the skill development centers of ONGC.
Alka and Pomila Jaspal, Director (Finance) in ONGC’s subsidiary, Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), are the two full-time woman directors.
