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.
Executive Director and
Chief Executive Officer (Chemicals)
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.
Head of Research and Development (R&D)
Raja Kaliappan is the Head of Research and Development (R&D), Godrej Industries Limited (Chemicals). He is a member of the Godrej Leadership Forum.
Raja has a solid career spanning over 18 years with a wealth of experience and expertise. He has strong leadership skills, strategic vision and proven track record in driving innovation.
Raja has held key positions in reputable organisations, his latest being Huntsman Corporation where he was the Director, Research and Technology for the Textile Effects business. Raja has spearheaded numerous successful projects and initiatives over his career. His passion for research, coupled with his commitment to excellence, aligns perfectly with our company values and aspirations.
Raja is focused on pioneering ground-breaking solutions and further significantly strengthen GIL Chemicals’ position in current industry segments and build strong positions in the new ones as well.
Raja earned a Ph.D in Organic Chemistry from University of Miami in 2007, and prior to that MSc Tech in Chemical Technology from Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT).
Raja enjoys reading books about Indian history and listening to music.
Chief Financial Officer
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.
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.
CHRO (Chief Human Resource Officer)
Poonam Burman is the CHRO (Chief Human Resource Officer), Godrej Industries Limited (Chemicals). She is a member of the Godrej Leadership Forum also a part of the Godrej Group HR Leadership Team.
Poonam brings with her a wealth of experience, with over 28 years of expertise gained from her tenure at companies such as Unilever, Haldia Petrochemicals, Lexmark, Orica, Indian Oiltanking and Hindustan Motors. In her previous role at Unilever, she served as the Category HR Head South Asia - Beauty Wellbeing & Personal Care Business Group, demonstrating her leadership and strategic acumen in the field of human resources.
Poonam is focused on shaping HR strategies and initiatives, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and growth within Godrej Chemicals. She is leveraging her expertise and insights and is instrumental in driving the organisational objectives forward and ensuring that Godrej Chemicals continues to attract, retain and develop top talent.
Poonam has done her post-graduation in HR from Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS) in 1996.
Poonam enjoys painting, learning, reading, travelling and trekking.
Chief Commercial Officer
Sandeep Arora is the Chief Commercial Officer, Godrej Industries Limited (Chemicals). He is a member of the Godrej Leadership Forum.
He leads the Sales & Marketing Function which includes the Business Units, Sales teams both domestic and international and Marketing.
Prior to Godrej, Sandeep was part of DCM Shriram, where he was the Business Head (Advanced Materials) and leading some of their major capex initiatives in the chemicals space. Prior to that Sandeep spent over 11 years with Aditya Birla Group in the Grasim and Birla Carbon businesses in various leadership roles, responsible for both domestic and international business. He has also spent 11 years in the Lubricants space with Indian Oil Corporation Limited and Castrol.
At GIL Chemicals, Sandeep is focused on transforming the business into a very effective and powerful sales and marketing engine, driving customer satisfaction, innovation and profitable growth for the company and our group.
Sandeep earned a PGDBM in Strategy, Sales & Marketing from International Management Institute, New Delhi in 1999, and prior to that BE in Electronics & Communications from Gulbarga University.
Sandeep enjoys listening to music, reading books, and playing sports like soccer, cricket and table tennis.
