Board of Directors including Directorship

Mr. Parmod Sagar Chairman

Mr. Parmod Sagar comes with more than three decades of extensive experience of serving the steel and refractory industry. A mechanical engineer, Mr. Parmod started his career in the steel industry and worked in the sector for over seven years gaining valuable insights. Thereafter, he transitioned to the refractories business joining Orient Refractories Limited (ORL) as a Manager -Technical Marketing in 1992.

In 2013, after RHI AG acquired ORL, he was appointed in the role of Managing Director & CEO of ORL. He currently holds the position of Chairman, Managing Director and CEO of the RHI Magnesita India Limited and the Regional President of India, West Asia, Africa Business Unit.

Mr. Parmod Sagar serves as the Chairman of Intermetal Engineers (India) Private Limited and Ashwath Technologies Private Limited. Additionally, he is a Director at the Indian Refractory Makers Association.

Mr. Pankaj Malhan Managing Director & CEO

Mr. Pankaj Malhan brings three decades of distinguished leadership experience across the steel, manufacturing, industrial materials, and infrastructure sectors.

A seasoned business leader with a proven track record of driving growth, operational excellence, business transformation, and stakeholder value creation, Mr. Pankaj has successfully led large and complex organizations through periods of expansion, modernization, and sustained profitability. His extensive experience spans strategic planning, commercial leadership, manufacturing operations, supply chain management, customer engagement, organizational development, and business turnaround initiatives.

Mr. Pankaj served as Executive Director-Odisha at Jindal Steel, where he played a pivotal role in strengthening operational performance, accelerating growth initiatives, and enhancing organizational capabilities. More recently, he is leading the Sales and Marketing function for Jindal Steel. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for building high-performing teams, fostering a culture of accountability and innovation, and delivering superior business outcomes in highly competitive industries.

Mr. Pankaj holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in Instrumentation and Control from Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar and a Post Graduate qualification in Business Management from XLRI, Jamshedpur.

His contributions to industry and business leadership have earned him several prestigious recognitions, including:
- CEO of the Year Award by ASSOCHAM (2019)
- Business Leader of the Year – Manufacturing by ET Now (2020)

In addition to his executive leadership responsibilities, Pankaj has served on the Boards of leading industrial enterprises, including:
- JSW Steel Coated Products Limited
- ESL Steel Limited
- Ferro Alloys Corporation Limited

Mr. Nazim Sheikh Non-Executive - Independent Director

Mr. Nazim Sheikh is a metallurgical engineer with over 44 years of varied experience in Ferroalloys, Manganese and Iron Ore mining operations, procurement, and raw materials management.

Mr. Sheikh served as the Managing Director of Sandur Manganese & Iron Ores Ltd. (SMIORE) before he retired in 2020. He played a key role in strategizing mining and ferroalloy operations for the company along with setting up of a new 32 MW thermal power plant. He led the efficient implementation of a Coke Oven Plant to produce 0.4 mn ton of Metallurgical Coke, a WHR Boiler Unit to provide alternate free fuel for the 32 MW Power Plant and setting up a new 25 MW Submerged electric arc ferroalloy furnace.

Mr. Sheikh had also been involved in the direct administration of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities in Sandur and neighboring villages. He is a Bachelor of Engineering in Metallurgy from National Institute of Technology, Surathkal, Karnataka (1976).

Apart from RHI Magnesita India Limited, Mr. Nazim Sheikh holds directorship of board of directors of RHI Magnesita India Refractories Limited and RHI Magnesita Seven Refractories Limited.

Ms. Sonu Chadha Non-Executive - Independent Director

Ms. Sonu Chadha is an entrepreneur with an extensive experience of more than 25 years in managing all aspects of business operations. Ms. Chadha is the Founder Director of Impressions Services Pvt. Ltd. She has been responsible for expanding the company’s geographic service footprint to over 45 cities and towns throughout the country. She has also facilitated the establishment of a single-window procurement experience as a Partner at Wildflower Mercantile.

In addition, Ms. Chadha serves as a principal advisor to the founder of Cartellagroup.com, an HR technology start-up. She is associated with Unnayan Foundation as its Trustee and is committed to the cause of clean, Open Defecation Free India and promoting dignity of women. She is a Bachelor of Arts degree holder from University of Delhi (1992). She has a diploma in Interior Design from South Delhi Polytechnic (1993) and has a CPSS Certification from British Institute of Cleaning Science (2011).

Apart from RHI Magnesita India Limited, she holds directorship of Board of Directors of Impressions Services Private Limited, Digiveritas Outsourcing Solutions Private Limited and Cartella India Private Limited.

Mr. Kamal Sarda Non-Executive - Independent Director

Mr. Kamal Sarda is a prominent figure in the manufacturing industry, with approximately 35 years of professional experience. He has been with IFGL Refractories Limited, a leading refractory company for nearly 26 years, driving the company’s growth through various leadership roles, including Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Executive Officer, and Director. In addition to his extensive experience in the refractory industry, Mr. Kamal has worked as an independent financial consultant and has been associated with Shristi Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, Stone India Limited, and Incab Industries Limited. He has also served as the Chairman of the Indian Refractory Makers Association for two terms, further solidifying his influence in the industry.

Mr. Kamal is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, a law graduate, and holds a B.Com. (Hons.) degree from Calcutta University. Currently, he serves as the CEO of The Alumina Industrial Company LLC in Abu Dhabi, a greenfield project dedicated to manufacturing alumina-based raw materials, a primary raw material required by the refractory industry.

As on date, except RHI Magnesita India Limited, He does not hold directorship in any other Company.

Mr. Gustavo Lucio Goncalves Franco Non-Executive – Non- Independent Director

Mr. Gustavo joined Magnesita in 2001. During the first years of his career, he progressed through various technical and sales managerial roles in South America, North America and Europe, resulting in a vast international experience, having lived in Brazil, USA, Germany, Netherlands and Austria. During the last two decades he has also built an extensive understanding of the refractory industry and the market forces within it. He has deep familiarity with customers of RHI Magnesita and brings a tactical as well as strategic view to his executive role.

In 2017 he led the go to market integration of RHI and Magnesita. He was appointed Chief Sales Officer in 2019 and since 2022 the Regional Presidents, responsible for the regional P&Ls, as well as the Global Business Units and the Global Procurement. Supply Chain and Commercial organization have reported to him in his role as Chief Customer Officer.

Apart from RHI Magnesita India Limited, Mr. Gustavo also holds directorship in RHI Magnesita India Refractories Limited and RHI Magnesita Seven Refractories Limited. Along with this, he also holds the position of Managing Director of Magnesita Refractories S.R.L., Radex Vertriebsgesellschaft m.b.H., RHI Magnesita (China) Co. Ltd. and Veitscher Vertriebsgesellschaft m.b.H.

Alvaro Martin Rivero Non-Executive – Non- Independent Director

Mr. Alvaro Martin Rivero has been with RHI Magnesita N.V., the ultimate holding company, since 2022, where he serves as Group Head of Reporting and Finance and Tax, with senior leadership responsibilities spanning reporting, finance, and tax functions.

Prior to joining RHI Magnesita, he was a Partner at Ernst & Young, where he advised major listed companies and developed deep expertise in complex accounting, financial reporting, and regulatory compliance under both UK and US frameworks.

A qualified Chartered Accountant in Spain (ICJCE) and in England & Wales (ICAEW), Mr. Martin Rivero also holds an MBA in Energy from Warwick Business School.

He brings substantial financial leadership, governance experience, and a strong blend of technical excellence and practical commercial judgement to the Board.

This positions him exceptionally well to support oversight of financial reporting, risk management, governance, and broader strategic matters.

Apart from RHI Magnesita India Limited, Mr. Martin also holds directorship in RHI Magnesita Trading B.V., Sapref AG für feuerfestes Material and RHI Ukraina LLC.

Mr. Azim Syed Whole Time Director and Chief Financial Officer

Azim Syed joined RHI Magnesita in 2019 and was appointed as Head of Finance for India in April 2024. Prior to that he was responsible for Global Supply Chain and IBP. He has worked in supply chains in various verticals, hi-tech, telecom, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods, Retail and manufacturing, focusing on transformations to enable customer-centric, competitive advantage supply chains, utilising his strategic and financial skills to improve business performance and drive team performance.

He is a digital evangelist and has implemented TMS and Everest (ongoing) at RHIM, as well as various significant digital initiatives in other organizations.

He has implemented Integrated Business Planning in different large-scale & complex organizations to drive and deliver financial plans on tactical and strategic levels. He leverages his detailed knowledge of financial planning, RHIM operations and business knowledge to perform his role in India.

Priyabrata Panda Non-Executive- Independent Director

Priyabrata Panda is a distinguished veteran of the refractory industry, bringing over four decades of expertise to RHIM India. He began his journey with TRL Krosaki Refractories Limited in 1981 as a Graduate Trainee and steadily advanced through a series of technical and leadership roles. Notably, he served as Chief Operating Officer from 2009 to 2014 and led TRL Krosaki’s China operations as President & CEO from 2006 to 2009.

In 2015, he was appointed Managing Director, a position he held with distinction until his retirement in 2024. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Technology) degree from Calcutta University.

He is a Fellow of the Indian Institute of Ceramics and a Life Member of both the Indian Institute of Metals and the Indian Ceramic Society. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the industry, he was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Indian Refractory Makers Association in 2024.