Board of Directors
A company is known by its legacy, its values and its leadership. Our company is steered by thought leaders who create and articulate the company’s vision, aided by a strong and dedicated management and an experienced R&D and Technology team.
Nadir Burjor Godrej
Chairman & Non-executive Director
Mr. Nadir Godrej is the Chairman and Managing Director of Godrej Industries Limited.
He holds B. S. degree in Chemical Engineering in 1973 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a M.S. in Chemical Engineering in 1974 from Stanford University. He has done an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1976. Since 1977, he has been a Director of Godrej Soaps Limited.
He has been very active in developing the animal feed, agricultural inputs and chemicals businesses of Godrej Industries Limited and associate companies. He has been very active in research and has several patents in the field of agricultural chemicals and surfactants. In 2001, Godrej Soaps Limited was renamed as Godrej Industries Limited and he was appointed as the Managing Director of Godrej Industries Limited.
He is also the Chairman of Godrej Agrovet Limited and Director of Godrej Properties Limited, subsidiaries of Godrej Industries Limited. He is a Director of Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Godrej Consumer Products Limited and other Godrej group companies. He has been active in CLFMA (Compound Livestock Feed Manufacturers Association 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 M I T 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 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.
Ashok V Hiremath
Non-Executive Director
Mr. Ashok Vishwanath Hiremath was formerly the Managing Director of Astec LifeSciences Limited and is now the Non-Executive Director. He brings with him several years of experience in the Chemical Industry. He has a Masters’ degree in Engineering from University of Oxford and a Post Graduate Diploma in Chemical Engineering from University College, University of London. He founded Astec LifeSciences Limited in 1994. He has been actively involved in the affairs of the Company and has played a key role in the growth of the Company. He was awarded the Dombivli Giants Award for Industry in 2008 and the Udyog Rattan Award by the Institute of Economic Studies in 2010 and several other awards for his excellence in chemical Industry.
Balram Singh Yadav
Non-Executive Director
Balram Singh Yadav is the Managing Director of Godrej Agrovet Ltd., one of India’s foremost diversified agribusiness companies. He also serves as Managing Director of Godrej Tyson Foods Ltd. He has been the Chairman of CLFMA of India (Twice), an Association of Livestock Industry. In addition, he is a Director of numerous firms including ACI Godrej Agrovet Pvt Ltd. - Bangladesh, Creamline Dairy Products Ltd. - Hyderabad, Astec Lifesciences Ltd and Godrej Maxximilk - Mumbai.
Balram began his career with Godrej in 1990 and over the years he has handled roles of increasing responsibility across businesses and regions in the company. He became the business Head in 1999 when he was asked to establish & lead the Poultry Business. He established the Real Good Chicken and Yummiez as the leading processed poultry brand in India.
In 2007, he took over reins of Godrej Agrovet Ltd. as Managing Director and since, has put Godrej Agrovet on the path of rapid growth. In 2017, Balram was instrumental in taking GAVL public. The public offer received record response & was subscribed over 96 times. He is a regular contributor to National & International fora in areas of Food & Agriculture.
Balram completed his BSc (Hons) in Agricultural Science at Haryana Agricultural University, where he ranked 2nd in his class. He earned his MBA from IIM-Ahmedabad. He lives in Mumbai.
Burjis Godrej
Non-Executive Director
Mr. Burjis Godrej is currently Head of Special Projects at Godrej Agrovet Limited (“GAVL”), where he focuses on agrochemical projects for Astec LifeSciences Limited and Godrej Agrovet Limited Crop Protection businesses. His role involves evaluation of products, synergies, technologies, business models, geographies, consultant engagements and capex plans. He has been appointed as an “Executive Director” of GAVL w.e.f. 1st November, 2022.
Mr. Burjis Godrej is also a “Non-Executive Director” of Astec LifeSciences Limited and Godrej Maxximilk Private Limited, Subsidiaries of GAVL
Mr. Burjis Godrej completed his MBA from Harvard Business School in 2021. He first joined GAVL in 2017 working on new product development in the strategy division. His role involved monitoring R&D activities, product quality improvement, new product trials and innovation partnerships with external organizations. Before joining GAVL, he worked for Conservis Corporation, a firm that provides software for farmers (now a Joint Venture between RaboBank and Tellus Corporation). His role there involved software implementation, customer success, water quality monitoring and sales development.
Rishinaradamangalam Ramakrishna Govindan
Independent Director
Mr. Rishinaradamangalam Ramakrishna Govindan, is a Commerce graduate and a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). He has more than 35 years of corporate work experience in Finance, Mergers & Amalgamations (M&A), Green Field projects, independent management of Joint Venture (JV) relationship and management of Agri Verticals. He served as the General Manager - Finance & Systems of Godrej Foods Limited and Godrej Agrovet Limited from April 1999 to November 2004. He served as the Managing Director of ACI Godrej Agrovet Private Limited, Dhaka (Bangladesh) from November 2004 upto February 2008. He then served as the Vice President (Plant Group Vertical) of Godrej Agrovet Limited from February 2008 to February 2012 and as the Executive Vice President from March 2012 onwards, till he superannuated on 30th April, 2015.
Nandkumar Dhekne
Independent Director
Mr. Nandkumar Dhekne has four decades experience in diverse areas such as Field services, Operations Management, Sales/Marketing & General Management. He is a recognized growth leader in Asia Pacific.
In his recent assignment, Mr. Nandkumar was Vice President – Asia Pacific for Solenis, USA (JV between CD&R and BASF), a global leader in paper making and industrial water treatment chemicals based in Shanghai.
He has held several senior leadership roles in his career for the business growth and performance in over 10 countries including China, Korea, Japan, ANZ, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and South Asia including India and was based in Shanghai since 2007. He was the Chairman/Board Member of several Hercules, Ashland and Solenis entities in Asia Pacific and their JVs in India (Chembond Chemicals), China (Hercules-Tianpu Chemicals), Korea (Hoimyung) and Malaysia (Drew Ameroid). He was the Managing Director SEA for GE Water and process Technologies (2001-2004) and President & CEO of GE Energy SEA during 2004-2007. When in GE, he was a Board member of GEPSIL and GE-BHEL JVs in India. During 2007-2009, he was the Director – Asia Pacific, Hercules USA. From 2009-2014, he was Vice President – Asia Pacific, Ashland USA and led their Speciality chemicals business based in Shanghai.
Mr. Nandkumar is a Chartered Engineer and the Honorary Fellow-Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers. He was the Chairman of American Chambers of Commerce, Bangalore, Chairman of the Energy Committee – Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce and an active CII Committee Member, Delhi. He has served as the Chairman of GE Elfun in India and was on the Board of AICM and ENACTUS in China which are non-profit organisations. He continues to be an active YPO member in Bangalore.
Mr. Nandkumar holds a graduate degree in Chemical Engineering and is a distinguished alumnus of Institute of Chemical Technology (UDCT) Mumbai. He is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School, Boston (AMP).
Anjali Rajesh Gupte
Independent Director
Ms. Anjali Rajesh Gupte holds a Bachelor's degree in Commerce and is a qualified Chartered Accountant & Cost Accountant.
Ms. Gupte has over 30 years of experience, having handled various functions in Finance across a varied range of industries, including Media, Financial Services, Manufacturing and Real Estate. Key areas of expertise include strategic business partnering, financial reporting, controllership, mergers and acquisitions, due diligence, business integration and reorganising business for growth and compliance.
In her recent assignments, Ms. Gupte was Director and Group Chief Financial Officer for Havas Group, India (2021-2023) and as Chief Financial Officer, South Asia for Grey Worldwide (2016-2021). Prior to this, she was the Head of Finance, South Asia & Director for Thomson Reuters India Private Limited (2008-2014) and Finance Manager, South Asia & Director at Reuters India (1998-2008). Ms. Gupte worked as a Finance Manager in Godrej Properties & Investment Limited (1995-1997) and as a Finance Executive in Gujarat Godrej Innovative Chemicals Limited (1993-1995).
Dr. Ganapati Dadasaheb Yadav
Independent Director
Professor Ganapati D. Yadav is one of India’s most prolific and accomplished engineering-scientists, holding the prestigious National Science Chair from the Government of India. He is an Emeritus Professor of Eminence and the former Vice Chancellor of the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai. Internationally renowned, Professor Yadav has received over 150 prestigious awards for his groundbreaking contributions in Green Chemistry, Catalysis, Chemical Engineering, Energy Engineering, Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, and the development of Clean and Green Technologies. He serves as independent director on the boards of Godrej Industries, Clean Science & Technology, Meghmani Organics, and Bhageria Industries.
His pioneering research and innovations, particularly in the areas of green hydrogen production, carbon dioxide refineries, and the valorization of biomass and waste plastics, have gained global recognition. His work towards the net zero goal has attracted interest from more than two dozen companies, with three actively pursuing commercialization at the plant scale.
Professor Yadav serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, Conjoint Professor at the University of Newcastle, Australia, and Distinguished Adjunct Professor at IIT Guwahati and SOA University, Bhubaneswar. In 2016, he was honoured with the Padma Shri by the President of India.
In 2022, Professor Yadav was elected to the US National Academy of Engineering and the US National Academy of Inventors, becoming only the second Indian to receive the latter distinction. He has also received the Bharat Ratna Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award for Science & Technology (2022) from MIT-ADT University and the SASTRA C.N.R. Rao Award (2024) for excellence in research innovation in Chemistry and Materials Science.
In 2024, Professor Yadav was honoured with the Advantage India Chemical Conclave Award for Topmost and Best Contributor in Academic Research and Industry. He was named among Asia's Top 100 Scientists by Asian Scientist magazine in 2023, a year in which he received over a dozen awards and distinctions.
Currently, he chairs five policy-making committees of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and is a member of the Government of India's Hydrogen Infrastructure Committee. He also serves as the Chairman of the MNRE and DST Hydrogen Committees and was the keynote speaker for National Science Day in May 2024, a testament to his continued influence on India's scientific and energy policy landscape.