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Leadership Team

 
Nisaba Godrej

Nadir Godrej

Managing Director

Mr. Nadir B. Godrej holds a B.S. Degree in Chemical Engineering in 1973 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an M.S. in Chemical Engineering in 1974 from Stanford University. He also has an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1976. Since 1977, he has been a Director of Godrej Soaps. He has been very active in developing the animal feed, agricultural inputs and chemicals businesses of Godrej Industries and associate companies. He has also played a key role in enabling research and has several patents in the field of agricultural chemicals and surfactants. In 2001, Godrej Soaps was renamed to Godrej Industries and he was appointed as the Managing Director. He is also the Chairman of Godrej Agrovet Limited and Director of Godrej Properties Limited, subsidiaries of Godrej Industries. He is a Director of Godrej and Boyce, Godrej Consumer Products and other Godrej Group companies. He has been active in CLFMA (Compound Livestock Feed Manufacturers Assn. Of India), ICC (Indian Chemical Council) [erstwhile ICMA (Indian Chemical Manufacturers Association)], OTAI (Oil Technologists’ Association of India) and the Alliance Française de Bombay. He is currently the President of the Alliance Française de Bombay. He is on the National Council of CII (Confederation of Indian Industry). He is also very active in the Harvard Business School and MIT Alumni Association in India. The French Government awarded him the Ordre national du Mérite in 2002 and the Légion d’Honneur in 2008. He has also received Life Time Achievement Awards from OTAI (Oil Technologist Association of India) and Chemexcil and the All India Liquid Bulk Importers and Exporters Association (AILBIEA). The Board of Management of Manav Rachna University has unanimously conferred Mr. Godrej with an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, and he has been inducted as Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE). Mr. Godrej is deeply committed to the ‘Good’ and ‘Green’ strategies and achievement of set targets for the Godrej Group. He encourages and supports a shared vision value for all programs of Good and Green.

Vishal Sharma

Executive Director and
Chief Executive Officer (Chemicals)

V. Srinivasan

Vishal Sharma serves as a Director on the Board of Godrej Industries Limited. He comes with 27 years of business experience, the majority of that in the Specialty and Process Chemicals space, serving both Industrial and Institutional segments over his career.

Vishal has lived and operated across five continents, in both developed and developing markets, in operational as well as strategic roles over his career. He has led start-up businesses and is credited with multiple transformational and scale up initiatives.

Prior to his current role, Vishal spent 10 years with Ecolab Inc., leading businesses across Asia Pacific, India, Middle East and Africa. He spent 12 years with Diversey Inc., before that, in various countries, regional and global roles and a 4-year stint with GE at the start of his career.

Vishal is driven by a strong focus on financial performance and passionate about value creation for all stakeholders, while growing individuals and teams. He believes in continuous improvement and drives a deep learning, coaching, and sharing leadership style. He is passionate about sustainability and is focused on driving innovations and solutions that aid sustainability in business operations and the environment, making the world a better place for future generations. He is a keen observer of economic and geopolitical developments, with an active involvement in new initiatives. An avid reader, he provides thought leadership across various areas of business, especially on leadership and strategy.

Vishal earned a post-graduate diploma in Management from IMDR Pune, and a bachelor’s degree in engineering from MIT Manipal, both in India.

Akhil Chandra

Dr. Sandeep Gharat

Head - R&D and New Product Development

Dr. Sandeep Gharat is Head - R&D and New Product Development, Godrej Industries Limited (Chemicals).

Under Sandeep’s leadership, Godrej Industries setup its new research laboratory in Ambernath. He also successfully led collaborations with institutions, initiated technology tie-ups and targeted takeover of small operations. Value unlocking in existing processes/products and value creation through new product development are the two important pillars of Sandeep’s strategy. With this thinking, his team has identified some diversified business areas related to fuel lubricity, green surfactants, and value added oleo products as their long-term development targets.

Sandeep has over 25 years experience in the Indian chemicals industry. He has worked across a wide range of leadership positions in Pharma, Agro and Speciality chemicals. He has also led various functions including engineering, EHS, R&D and operations in both western and Japanese management systems.

Sandeep holds a Ph.D. (Technology) in Chemical Engineering from Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai. He is also a member of the Chemical Engineering Research Council at ICT.

Sandeep is married to Manjiri and they have a son, Yashodhan. In his spare time, Sandeep enjoys listening to Marathi and Hindi music. He is a Rotarian and is also associated with many social organisations.

Clement Pinto

Chief Financial Officer

Akhil Chandra

Clement Pinto is Chief Financial Officer and Head Finance, Godrej Industries Limited (Chemicals). He began his career as a Management Trainee (Finance) at the erstwhile Godrej Soaps Limited in 1996.

A Chartered Accountant by qualification, Clement was a rank holder and has received several proficiency certificates from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India for his academic excellence, including the A. F. Fergusan Prize, the R. Venkatesan Memorial Prize and the Auditor Arun Atmaram Bhatt Prize.

Clement specialises in treasury management and has been involved in various capital raising and restructuring activities, including the Godrej Industries Limited Equity (QIP) issue, Godrej Industries Limited Equity (IPP) issue, Godrej Industries Limited NCD issues, demerger of Godrej Soaps Limited, merger of Godrej Industries Limited and Wadala Commodities Limited, merger of Godrej Industries Limited with the holding company, and more.

Clement is a member of the Godrej Leadership Forum, Risk Management Committee, Business Executive Committee, Group Strategic Finance Committee, Forex Committee and Business Risk Management Committee and other senior management committees. He has contributed strongly to the business, especially in strategy and profit planning, working capital management, risk management, fixed cost control and financial analysis and structuring, and his advisory role to the promoters. Clement is on the board of several Godrej Group Companies.

Clement has received many accolades in recognition of his contribution to Corporate Finance, including the ‘Chief Financial Officer of the Year’ from Stars of the Industry Group and Asian Confederation of Businesses, ‘National Award for CFO (100) Excellence’ from CIMA Institute, CFO Award from the CFO India Institute and the ‘Indira Brand Slam CFO Leadership Awards’ by the Indira Group of Institute, Pune.

Clement believes in giving back to society.

Dharnesh Gordhon

Sanjiva Kumar Rayavarapu

Head – Supply Chain

Sanjiva Kumar Rayavarapu is the Head-Supply Chain, Godrej Industries Limited (Chemicals). Sanjiva comes with 33 years of experience in the Oleo Chemicals space. He specializes in product development and efficiency enhancement in the Fractionation process. Under his leadership, Godrej Industries Limited (Chemicals) has taken great strides in Manufacturing Excellence, Transformation in Safety Culture and Execution of Sustainability Projects across multiple factories.

Sanjiva started his career with Godrej in 1990 as a Shift officer in the Vikhroli Plant at the erstwhile Godrej Soaps Limited. Since then, he has worked in different capacities leading multiple Production processes in the factory. With his manufacturing process expertise, he led the relocation project of Vikhroli Plant to Ambernath between 2010- 2013.

Sanjiva has earned his B.Sc. Technology Degree in Oils, Fats and Waxes in the year 1988 from UDCT currently known as the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai.

Sanjiva is Married to Prema, and they have two children Pratima and Srikar Ram and he takes keen interest in Mentoring and Team Building in his professional circle.