Dr Hemant Sharad Pande set to be next CMD of WCL

New Delhi: Dr Hemant Sharad is set to be next Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of Western Coalfields Limited (WCL), a PSU under the Ministry of Coal. He has been recommended for the post by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) panel on Friday. Presently, he is serving as Director (Personnel) in the same organisation.

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Dr Sharad has been recommended WCL’s CMD post from a list of 12 candidates who were interviewed by the PESB panel in its selection meeting held on February 13. The candidates were from various public sector enterprises and government organisations. The shortlisted candidates included senior executives from Coal India Limited, Eastern Coalfields Limited, South Eastern Coalfields Limited, Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited, NLC India Limited, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, and Engineering Projects (India) Limited, among others.

Dr Pande has been serving as Director (Personnel) of WCL since January 27, 2025. With over 35 years of experience in the coal mining sector, he has held key leadership roles across subsidiaries of Coal India Limited, including South Eastern Coalfields Limited, where he served as Area General Manager of Raigarh Area.

A Mining Engineering graduate from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology Nagpur, Dr Pande also holds an MBA, an M.Tech in Mining, and a PhD in Management. He has led major operational and modernization initiatives, including environment-friendly coal dispatch systems and technology-driven improvements at large mining projects such as Gevra.

Recognised for his leadership, he received the Best General Manager Award from Coal India in 2022. His expertise spans mining operations, industrial relations, and sustainable mining practices.

The recommendation will be forwarded for further approvals as per the Government’s appointment process for senior management positions in central public sector enterprises.

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