ONGC: Alka Mittal first woman to head ONGC – Times of India

New Delhi: Alka Mittal She has become the first woman to head India’s largest exploration and production company. ONGC, and the second woman in the country to lead an oil company after Nishi Vasudev, who made history when he took over the reins of the oil refiner-fuel retailer in March 2014 Hindustan Petroleum,
The Department of Personnel and Training appointed Mittal on Monday evening, 72 hours after the post fell vacant. Subhash Kumar, who took charge from February 2021 in addition to his regular job as Director (Finance), retired on December 31.
Mittal, presently Director (HR), has been appointed for a term of six months or till a regular Chairman is appointed, whichever is earlier. But still, his ascent to the corner office in ONGC reflects the growing diversity in the ‘macho’ oil and gas industry which is still one of the last bastions of male dominance.

Globally, she joins the ranks of Vicki Hallub, who made history in the US in 2016 by becoming CEO of Occidental Petroleum; linda cook, who last year became the head of Premier Oil-Chrysore Holding Plc, the largest producer of North Sea oil; Catherine cried Tanzania-focused UK-listed Wentworth Resources plc; And Mariana Gheorghe Austrian OMVpetrom, the largest energy company in Southern and Eastern Europe.
A post graduate in economics and a doctorate in commerce, Mittal broke the glass ceiling in ONGC by becoming the first woman to join the company’s board on November 27, 2018. She took the lead in ensuring a safe working environment for the 27,000-strong workforce and thousands of contract workers, especially women employees and engineers deployed on offshore platforms and remote locations to ensure seamless operation through the pandemic Is.
His appointment comes at a time when ONGC is under pressure to monetize key producing sectors by involving private partners – ostensibly to incorporate technology and ramp up production.
With long experience as head of skill development at ONGC before becoming director, Mittal’s appointment coincides with the Narendra Modi government’s focus on skills, creating a conducive workplace environment for women and improving corporate governance. With a penchant for training and mentorship, Mittal initiated several programs to nurture talent and enhance the skills of ONGC’s large workforce, especially women. Prior to becoming Director (HR), Mittal had trained over 11,000 graduate trainees of ONGC since 2001 on Corporate Governance as part of their induction programme.