R K Singh appointed as new BPCL chairman

The government has appointed R K Singh as the Chairman and Managing Director of state-owned Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL).

Singh, who currently holds the portfolio of Director (Refineries) at BPCL, is likely to assume the new role tomorrow.

In a statement, BPCL said, "Singh has been appointed by the Competent Authority as Chairman and Managing Director from the date of taking over charge of the post."

A mechanical engineer from Banaras Hindu University, Singh, 57, will hold the reins of the nation's second largest public sector refining and marketing company till September, 2013.

The position of Chairman and Managing Director at BPCL fell vacant in August after Ashok Sinha resigned from the job. Currently, S Radhakrishnan, BPCL Director (Marketing), is officiating as the Chairman and Managing Director of the company.

Sources said Sinha put in his papers in May, apparently because the government was not inclined to give him an extension of service after he completed his five-year tenure on August 18, 2010.

Sinha, 58, was eligible for an extension of tenure till he attained superannuation at the age of 60 years in February, 2012.

The government's headhunter, the Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB), named R K Singh as its No. 1 choice to head BPCL after interviewing five candidates on September 28.

"Singh had a short stint in the private sector before joining BPCL in 1978 in the refining division," the BPCL statement said. "During a career span of over three decades, he has held various assignments, both in the refinery and marketing divisions of the company."

In March, 2006, Singh was appointed as Director (Refineries) of BPCL, responsible for the operation of the Mumbai and Kochi refineries and subsidiary Numaligarh Refinery.

He played a key role in planning and implementation of the 6-million tonnes per annum Bharat Oman Refinery Project at Bina, Madhya Pradesh.