New HPCL chief leads change of guard in oilcos

NEW DELHI: Subir Roychoudhury on Sunday took over as chairman and managing director of refinermarketer Hindustan Petroleum , starting a round of leadership change in staterun oil companies.

A mechanical engineer, Roychoudhury was the marketing director in HPCL and takes over the company's reins from Arun Balakrishnan who superannuated on Saturday.

Roychoudhury marks the first change of guard in the state-run oil industry. Flagship refiner-marketer IndianOil and sister PSU Bharat Petroleum are next in line to have new chiefs.

IndianOil director (marketing ) B M Bansal has been officiating as chairman since February after the government denied an extension to Sarthak Behuria while the BPCL chairman is serving notice period after putting in his papers. The interviews for choosing their successors are to be held in September-end .

Next in line will be flagship explorer ONGC. The company will have a new chairman in March next year after incumbent R S Sharma superannuates.

Last month, A K Balyan moved as ONGC director HR to head Petronet LNG. The company, however, is registered as a private entity even though it is promoted by state-run firms for importing gas in ships.