Sengupta Appointed

The government has appointed Prabir Sengupta, secretary in the heavy industries department of the industry ministry, as the Maruti Udyog Ltd (MUL) chairman with immediate effect.

The appointment was communicated to the MUL through a notification dated February 24.

Sengupta replaces T R Prasad, who will now head the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) as secretary, industrial policy and promotion.

Senguptas appointment will be valid until further orders. He is expected to hold office at MUL at least till July 28, when managing director R C Bhargavas term expires.

Thereafter, the government is expected to exercise its right to appoint the managing director of the company while its joint venture partner, Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan, will get to select the non-executive chairman.

The government has already set into motion the process to choose Bhargavas successor who, unlike the chairman, will have to be a full-time appointee. Bhargava, who was first appointed as the managing director by the government, has been holding the position as a Suzuki nominee since 1992.

The 10-member MUL board has another new face in government nominee Ajay Vikram Singh, assistant secretary and financial advisor in the industry ministry.