New Delhi: In a key development in India’s public sector enterprise landscape, the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has announced the selection of two senior officials for critical leadership roles at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).
Dr Harikrishnan S Selected as Director (Operations)
At a PESB meeting held on May 22, Dr Harikrishnan S, currently serving as Executive Director (Ship Building) at CSL, was selected for the post of Director (Operations). His name has now been recommended to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for final approval, following standard procedures such as vigilance clearance.
Dr Harikrishnan brings extensive experience in shipbuilding and strategic operations at CSL. His elevation to the board-level role is seen as a step toward reinforcing the company’s operational leadership amid growing demand in India’s shipbuilding and defence manufacturing sectors.
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Rajesh Gopalakrishnan Named Director (Technical)
In a parallel appointment, Rajesh Gopalakrishnan, who currently serves as Executive Director (Ship Repair) at CSL, has been selected for the position of Director (Technical). The role is currently held by Shri Bejoy Bhasker, who has served in the post since April 5, 2018.
Shri Gopalakrishnan’s promotion is a recognition of his contributions to CSL’s ship repair division, an area that has seen significant expansion and modernization under his leadership.
Selection Process and Interviewees
Both appointments followed a rigorous interview process conducted by the PESB. A total of 11 candidates were interviewed for each post, indicating the highly competitive nature of these selections.
Candidates interviewed included:
- Dr Harikrishnan S, Executive Director (Ship Building), Cochin Shipyard Limited
- Rajesh Gopalakrishnan, Executive Director, Ship Repair, Cochin Shipyard Limited
- Eldho John, Chief General Manager (Technical), CSL
- Shiraz Villantekathu Puthiyapurayil, CGM (Planning, Project Management & Strategy), CSL
- Deepu Surendran, CGM (C-SAS), CSL
- Anjana K R, CGM (Design), CSL
- Sivakumar Ayyaru, GM, Ship Repair, CSL
- Jayan K Thampi, GM (Outfit & Outsourcing), CSL
- Sivaram Narayana Swamy, GM, Business Development, CSL
- Santhosh Philip, GM (Ship Repair), CSL
- Mahesh Kumar Balaraman, GM & DY CVO, The Shipping Corporation of India Limited
The PESB’s decision reflects a balanced emphasis on internal promotion and recognition of long-serving professionals with deep institutional knowledge and technical expertise.
About Cochin Shipyard Limited
Cochin Shipyard Limited, a Schedule ‘A’ Miniratna PSU under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, is a premier shipbuilding and maintenance company in India. It plays a crucial role in India’s maritime capabilities, handling complex naval and commercial shipbuilding and repair operations.
These appointments come at a pivotal time as CSL continues to expand its footprint in domestic defence manufacturing and global maritime markets.
