Deepak Gupta Recommended by PESB as the New CMD of GAIL (India) Limited
Sandeep Kumar Gupta, the present Chairman and Managing Director of GAIL (India) Limited, who is set to retire on February 28, 2026
The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB), the government’s top headhunter for leadership positions in Public Sector Undertakings, has recommended Deepak Gupta, currently Director (Projects), GAIL (India) Limited, as the next Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the company.
After a marathon round of interviews involving 12 shortlisted candidates, Mr. Gupta emerged as the PESB’s top choice to head India’s largest natural gas company.
He is likely to succeed Sandeep Kumar Gupta, the present Chairman and Managing Director of GAIL (India) Limited, who is set to retire on February 28, 2026.
An Engineer with Over 35 Years of Experience in Oil & Gas
A distinguished Mechanical Engineer from Delhi College of Engineering (now DTU) and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) from PMI, USA, Deepak Gupta brings over 35 years of diverse experience in the Oil & Gas sector. He is widely recognized for his expertise in Project Management, Construction Management, and Business Development across the hydrocarbon value chain.
Leadership in Mega Infrastructure Projects
Mr. Gupta has an impressive record of leading large-scale, complex infrastructure projects from concept to commissioning, across varied models such as EPC (LSTK), EPCM, OBE, and PMC.
During his distinguished tenure at Engineers India Limited (EIL), he played a pivotal role in executing the $19 billion, 650 KBPSD Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Complex in Nigeria — the world’s largest single-train greenfield refinery and Africa’s biggest refining project.
He also spearheaded the HMEL Bhatinda Polymer Project, one of India’s largest petrochemical installations, and contributed to the first greenfield refinery project in Mongolia, advancing India’s footprint in global energy diplomacy.
His leadership extended to other strategic assets, including the Petrochemical Expansion Project at GAIL’s Pata complex and the PFCC Unit under MRPL’s Phase III Expansion in Mangalore.
Thought Leadership and Industry Contribution
As Convener of the CHT Committee on Project Execution Best Practices, Mr. Gupta has been instrumental in driving systemic improvements in project execution models across the Indian energy sector.
A prolific writer and thought leader, he has authored several technical papers on fast-track project execution, critical engineering packages, and digitization in project management. His forward-thinking ideas on execution excellence and digital transformation have become institutionalized best practices within the industry.
He is frequently invited to address national and international forums, where his insights on mega project implementation, petrochemical infrastructure, digitalization, and sustainable growth strategies have been widely acclaimed.
Focus Areas and Vision
Mr. Deepak Gupta’s key areas of interest include innovation in project execution, petrochemical infrastructure development, digital transformation, systems improvement, and long-term strategies for sustainable business growth.
His appointment as CMD is expected to bring a renewed focus on operational excellence, digital integration, and strategic expansion at GAIL (India) Limited, ensuring a smooth leadership transition after Sandeep Kumar Gupta’s superannuation in February 2026.
We at www.indianpsu.com wish Mr. Deepak Gupta the very best in his new endeavour and challenge as he takes on the leadership of one of India’s most significant public sector enterprises.
