Ravi Kirpalani steps down as Castrol India MD

Ravi Kirpalani has quit as the Managing Director of Castrol India, the company said today announcing the appointment of Omer Dormen - BP Lubricant's sales director for CIS, Turkey and Central Asia - as the new country head.
"After a distinguished career of 16 years with Castrol India Ltd, six of which were on the Board of Directors, initially as Chief Operating Officer and subsequently as Managing Director, Ravi Kirpalani will be leaving the company to pursue other interests," the company said in a statement.
Kirpalani will step down as Managing Director with effect from September 30 but will continue as Director and Whole-time Director from October 1 till December 31, 2015 to facilitate smooth management transition.

He will be succeeded by Omer Dormen, who has been with Castrol/BP for over 30 years in various positions globally and is currently Sales Director of BP Lubricants for CIS, Turkey and Central Asia.
"Dormen will be appointed as an Additional Director and Managing Director of Castrol India Ltd with effect from October 1 subject to obtaining all necessary approvals," it said.
The appointment has been approved by the Board of Directors of Castrol India at its meeting today and will be subject to approval of the company's shareholders.

Commenting on his appointment, Omer Dormen called Kirpalani "a great leader" and said "Castrol India is an exceptional business with great people, a solid strategy and strong momentum."

He said he looked forward to working with the Board of Directors, the senior management team and all employees to build on the momentum the business has established over the last hundred years of its presence in India.
S M Datta, Chairman, said: "During the last six years as Director on the Board, initially as Chief Operating Officer and subsequently as Managing Director, Ravi has been instrumental in developing a profitable growth strategy which has resulted in the company delivering strong results. We wish him all the best in the next phase of his career."
Kirpalani joined Castrol India in 1999 and joined the Board of Directors as the Chief Operating Officer of Castrol India in May 2009. He was appointed as the Managing Director of the company in 2013.

His successor Dormen joined Turkpetrol (Castrol's Turkey distributor) in 1985. In 1996, he became the CEO of the newly formed Castrol Turkey before taking over as Performance Unit Leader of BP Turkey Lubricants in 2001 (following the acquisition of Castrol by BP) and then as Middle-East Sub-regional Sales Director in 2004.
In 2010, he took over his current role as Cluster Sales Director - CIS, Turkey and Central Asia.