Bhubaneswar, March 28: Dr. Ashok Kumar Panda has been named the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), following his selection by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) during a meeting held on Saturday.
With more than three decades of experience within SAIL, Dr. Panda is a seasoned finance expert who has worked across multiple plants and operational units. His areas of specialization include financial accounting, budgeting, taxation, treasury management, and strategic planning.
Currently serving as Director (Finance), he has also been holding the additional responsibility of Director (Commercial) since April 2025, where he has played an important role in shaping the company’s financial and commercial strategies.
Throughout his career, Dr. Panda has contributed significantly to key initiatives such as reducing debt, optimizing costs, enhancing tax strategies, implementing digital invoicing systems, and driving policy reforms—efforts that have strengthened SAIL’s financial stability and operational performance.
He joined SAIL in 1992 as a Management Trainee and has steadily risen through the ranks. Academically, he holds a degree in Electrical Engineering, a postgraduate diploma in management (Finance) from XIM Bhubaneswar, and a Ph.D. in Business Finance.
Dr. Panda has also been recognized for his contributions with several honors, including the Jawahar Award for Excellence in Cost Management. Beyond finance, he has experience across mining, plant operations, and project management, reflecting his diverse leadership background.
