New Delhi: Alka Mittal has been the first woman to lead the largest exploration and production company in India, Ongc, and the second woman in the country to lead oil companies after Nishi Vasudeva, who has made history in March 2014 after taking control of fuel oil retailers Purification of Hindustan Oil.
The personnel and training department on Monday night appointed Mittal to the post, 72 hours after it fell when Subhash Kumar, who also held charges since February 2021 in addition to his regular work as Director (Finance), retired on December 31.
Mittal, currently Director (HR), has been appointed for six months, or until the regular chairman is appointed, which is early.
However, his climbing to the corner office in ONC indicates increasing diversity in the Oil and Gas Macho industry ‘which still remains one of the last fortresses of male dominance.
Postgraduate in the field of economy and doctorate in trade, Mittal has broken glass ceilings in ONC by becoming the first woman to join the Corporate Board on November 27, 2018.
He played a major role in ensuring a safe work environment for 27,000 employees and thousands of contract workers, Especially employees and female engineers are deployed on offshore platforms and remote locations, to ensure uninterrupted operations through a pandemic.
His appointment came at the time OKC was under pressure to monetize the main producing field by triggering private partners – as if inducing technology and increased output.
With a long experience as head of skills development in Ongc before becoming a director, Mittal’s appointment coincides with the focus of the Modi Government on the skills, creating a conducive environment at work for women and improving corporate governance.
With the tendency for training and assistance, Mittal introduced a number of programs to maintain talents and improve the Large workforce of ONGC, especially women.
Before becoming Director (HR) Mittal had trained more than 11,000 ONGC graduates since 2001 concerning corporate governance as part of their induction program.