Anand Mahindra bowled over by Alka Mittal's new gig, says being ONGC boss is no mean feat

Alka Mittal, new Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), earned a fan in Anand Mahindra after she made history on Tuesday.

The Mahindra Group Chairman said that becoming the first woman to lead the country's largest oil and gas producer is unusual and a big deal.

The billionaire-businessman said that the global oil majors mostly have men at the leadership level, and Mittal's accomplishment is extraordinary.


He also hoped the 59-year-old ONGC boss becomes the forerunner of female CEOs in oil companies worldwide, and inspires women to take up the challenge.

"Smashing through glass barriers in the oil industry... Bravo Alka," he wrote.


Achal Khanna, CEO of Society for Human Resource Management India, called Mittal a 'star'. She said the new ONGC head has been an 'inspirational leader' and an 'awesome professional'.

"It is your skill and knowledge that has led you to your amazing promotion as the CMD," she added.


Mittal replaces Subhash Kumar, another interim head who retired after reaching superannuation age on December 31.

While Mittal holds the first woman leader at ONGC title, Nishi Vasudeva was the first woman to head an oil company. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd appointed Vasudeva in 2014 as the CMD till March 2016.

A post-graduate in economics and a doctorate in commerce, Mittal had broken the glass ceiling in ONGC by becoming the first woman to join the company's board on November 27, 2018. Mittal has taken over the charge, and will superannuate in August-end.