JK Org looks to fill void left by Hari Shankar Singhania

Hunt on for chairman of core units; key roles well defined, say company sources

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Following the demise of JK group president Hari Shankar Singhania on Friday, the board of directors of the Rs 24,246-crore JK Organisation is likely to meet to decide on the post of chairman for core business units JK Tyre Industries, JK Paper and JK Lakshmi Cement.

Hari Shankar Singhania also served as chairman on the board of all three companies.

Sources in the company said as the operational roles of Hari Shankar Singhania's brothers, Bharat Hari Singhania and Raghupati Singhania, had already been clearly defined, there would be no disruption in the functioning of group companies. (SINGHANIA FAMILY TREE)

Hari Shankar Singhania's third brother, Sripati Singhania, had passed away earlier. His wife, Vinita Singhania, holds the reins at JK Lakshmi Cement, which recorded a turnover of Rs 1,718 crore in the last financial year.

A senior JK Organisation executive said, "The board may decide on a new president for the group. But there is no urgency, as operationally, key roles are well-defined among the family members."

Raghupati Singhania, chairman of JK Group's auto component venture, Fenner India, also has additional charge as vice-chairman and managing director of flagship firm JK Tyre & Industries. The company, with revenue of Rs 5,644 crore in the last financial year, accounts for a quarter of JK Organisation's turnover.

Bharat Hari Singhania is chairman of the group's agro genetics unit JK Agri Genetics (Rs 180 crore).

Overall, JK Organisation has 10 companies under the brand. Apart from a strong footprint in automotive, cement, paper and sugar industries, the group also has interests in agro genetics, insurance and clinical trials.

Bharat Hari Singhania's sons, Harsh Pati Singhania and Vikrampati Singhania, are also involved with the family business.

While Harsh Pati Singhania is managing director of JK Paper (Rs 1,330 crore), Vikrampati Singhania assists his uncle, Raghupati Singhania, in JK Tyre & Industries and Fenner India. He also oversees operations at JK Agri Genetics, JK Sugar and the firm's clinical trials business CliniRx.