Krishna Kumar Thakur Appointed Director (Personnel) at NMDC
The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has recommended Shri Krishna Kumar Thakur for the role of Director (Personnel) at NMDC Limited. The decision was made following an intensive selection meeting conducted on December 23, 2025, at 3:45 PM. Thakur, who currently serves as Director (Human Resources) at Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), was chosen from a group of 12 accomplished candidates representing both public and private sectors.
Rigorous Selection Process by PESB
The selection meeting, identified as Meeting No. 122/2025, brought together top talents from multiple Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and prominent private companies. The interview panel evaluated seasoned professionals from organizations including NMDC, SAIL, BHEL, and Reliance Industries.
Shortlisted candidates included:
- Shivendra Bahadur Singh – Executive Director, NMDC
- Dharmendra Acharya – GM (HR), NMDC
- Somnath Acharya – GM (Personnel), NMDC
- Pawan Kumar – Executive Director, SAIL
- Paresh R. Ranpara – Director (HR), Grid-India
- Rai Varghese – CGM (HRM), IREL
- Arjun Kumar Singh – CHRO, Reliance Industries Limited
After thorough deliberation, the PESB unanimously selected Shri Krishna Kumar Thakur, recognizing his extensive expertise and strategic leadership in the field of human resources.
Professional Journey of Krishna Kumar Thakur
Shri Thakur is a 1998-batch officer from the Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS). With a distinguished career spanning more than 25 years, he has built a stellar reputation in human resource management, industrial relations, and administrative leadership.
Educational Background:
- Post-graduate in Literature
- Post Graduate Diploma in Management (HR) from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS)
He joined the BHEL board as Director (HR) in July 2023 and has since played a key role in reforming HR strategies and policies across the organization. His leadership has been pivotal in modernizing BHEL’s workforce and streamlining its personnel management systems.
Key Career Milestones
Throughout his career, Shri Thakur has held several high-impact positions:
- Indian Railways: Oversaw HR functions for three major divisions—Solapur, Bhopal, and Mumbai. Managed over 35,000 employees in the Mumbai Division alone.
- Railway Recruitment Cell (Western Railway): Served as Chairman, successfully managing the recruitment of 12,000 personnel.
- Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL): Led various HR initiatives and employee welfare programs.
- International Experience: Represented India on secondment with RITES in Saudi Arabia, handling global HR operations.
His diverse experience, both domestic and international, positions him as a strategic asset for NMDC during a crucial phase of growth and transformation.
Future Responsibilities and Outlook at NMDC
Shri Thakur will take over from the current Director (Personnel), Priyadarshini Gaddam, who is set to retire on January 31, 2026. His appointment comes at a time when NMDC, India’s largest iron ore producer and a Schedule ‘A’ Navratna PSU under the Ministry of Steel, is undergoing expansive operational and technological upgrades.
As Director (Personnel), Thakur will be responsible for:
- Industrial Relations: Ensuring harmonious labor relations across mining units in Chhattisgarh and Karnataka.
- Talent Management: Aligning human resource strategies with NMDC’s long-term growth objectives.
- Policy Innovation: Driving improvements in governance, workforce development, and corporate culture.
Given his proven track record in handling large-scale HR operations and policy implementation, industry experts believe that Thakur’s leadership will significantly enhance NMDC’s personnel framework.
Strategic Importance of the Appointment
This appointment is viewed as a strategic move by NMDC to bolster its human capital management as it ventures into new projects and global collaborations. Thakur’s leadership will be instrumental in navigating the evolving labor landscape and reinforcing NMDC’s position as a leading PSU in the mining sector.
With the PESB’s endorsement, the final appointment will proceed through further governmental clearances before being officially announced.
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