A P Panda—youngest CMD in PSUs

Ambika Prasad Panda is one of the youngest CMDs in Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). If everything goes well, he will continue as Chairman-cum-Managing Director, South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) till August 2027. Panda had joined SECL as Director (Finance) on August 1, 2013. Prior to this, he worked in various capacities at Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited, Vishakhapatnam Steel Plant, Vishakhapatnam.  He was selected for the post of Chairman-cum-Managing Director, South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) at a Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) meeting held on August 30, 2018. And, Panda took over as CMD, SECL on December 28, 2018. He is a Fellow member of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICAI) and Post Graduate in Business Administration. He is a keen business analyst and a committed management professional. During a career span of more than two decades, he could garner experience in the field of Financial Planning and Control, Accounts & Audit, Costing & Budgeting, Treasury and Forex Management, Commercial and Tax matters, etc. The organization was immensely benefitted by his negotiation skills, co-ordination abilities and relationship management. His contribution in the areas of Forex Management, Internal Control, Cost reductions, Contract management, etc. has resulted in adding value to functional areas of the organization. In addition to his present assignment as Director (Finance), SECL, Panda is also holding the charge of Chairman of the two subsidiaries of SECL viz. Chhattisgarh East Railway Limited (CERL) and Chhattisgarh East West Railway Limited (CEWRL).