New Delhi: Dr. Ashok Kumar Panda, currently serving as Executive Director (Finance & Accounts) at the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), has been appointed as Director (Finance) of the company.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the Ministry of Steel’s proposal to appoint Dr. Panda to the post.
The selection process was conducted by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB), which interviewed 10 candidates on February 8, 2025. Following the evaluation, Dr. Panda’s name was recommended to the ACC for final approval.
With over three decades of experience in the steel sector, Dr. Panda brings deep expertise in financial strategy, project finance, operations, and commercial functions. He began his career at Bokaro Steel Plant, SAIL in 1992, and moved to Rourkela Steel Plant in 1993. Since then, he has held several leadership roles across the organization, including key assignments at the Corporate Office and Bhilai Steel Plant.
An alumnus of the Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (PGDM, Finance), Dr. Panda also holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration (Finance) and a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical & Electronics from Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (formerly UCE Burla).
Throughout his career, Dr. Panda has been involved in critical areas such as corporate finance, treasury management, cost control, budgeting, strategic planning, and coal procurement. As Chief General Manager In-Charge (Finance & Accounts) at Bhilai Steel Plant, he played a pivotal role in aligning financial systems with strategic objectives. He also served as Chief General Manager (Corporate Finance) at SAIL’s headquarters in New Delhi, contributing significantly to the company’s financial planning and corporate strategy.
Dr. Panda has also represented SAIL on the boards of several Joint Venture Companies (JVCs), including NTPC-SAIL Power Company Limited (NSPCL), reflecting his strategic importance within the organization.
In his new role as Director (Finance), he will be a member of SAIL’s Board of Directors, responsible for shaping the company’s financial policies, overseeing budgeting and fund management, and steering the financial strategy to support SAIL’s growth and modernization objectives.
