GEPIL - Directors' Profile

Mr. Mahesh Shrikrishna Palashikar 

Non Executive Chairman 

Mr. Palashikar is a 20 year GE veteran who has worked and advanced through a series of complex and increasingly responsible assignments in manufacturing operations, global supply chain, quality, lean six sigma, sales, projects and services within GE’s Healthcare, Power and Renewable Energy businesses. During his GE career, he has lived in India, USA and China.

Prior to joining GE in 2000, he worked for more than a decade with Philips Electronics N.V. in their industrial and automotive electronics business in India.

Mr. Palashikar holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and a degree in Cost and Works Accounting from India, as well as a Master’s degree in Business Administration from USA. He has also received GE’s Six Sigma Master Black Belt certification while in the USA.

Mr. Puneet Bhatla

Managing Director

Puneet is currently leading the Steam Power India Growth Areas (core and upgrade Service, Air Quality Control equipment and Durgapur manufacturing) for Steam Power India business. In this role, Puneet is responsible for developing and driving the business profitability in the region, executing the operational business plan, owning the lifecycle customer experience from order to execution and people leadership. Prior to his current role, Puneet was leading the India Services Operations team as Executive Leader at GE Steam Power.

Puneet has more than 35 years of extensive experience working with premier power sector companies including NTPC Limited, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited and Siemens India Limited in engineering, product management, project execution, business management/development, JV negotiations, technical licensing management functions for Steam turbines, Nuclear Steam Turbines as well as Gas Turbines.

Puneet has completed his graduation in Mechanical Engineering and has supported Board of Studies of Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aligarh Muslim University for two years since 2020, as co-opted member.

Mr. Aashish Ghai

Whole-time Director & CFO

Mr. Aashish Ghai is Head of Finance for Steam India Services, a position held since August 2020. He has been instrumental in driving YoY double digit core services growth and achieving profitability and free cash targets consecutively for previous three years.

Under his finance leadership, the business has efficiently managed investments in NPI and capital expenditure to foster growth.

Prior to current role, Mr. Ghai has held several key positions in domains of project controlling, strategic financial planning, supply chain finance, and commercial finance. Before joining GE, he was part of Ernst and Young for 2 years in Assurance service line.

Mr. Ghai is a Chartered Accountant, accredited by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), where he distinguished himself as an All-India rank holder. Furthermore, he has a graduate degree in B.Com (Hons) from Hindu College, affiliated with Delhi University.

Ms. Shukla Wassan

Non-Executive Independent Director

Ms. Shukla Wassan is a Law graduate, Fellow Member of Institute of Company Secretaries of India & The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London and an internationally accredited Mediator.

During her rich and diverse corporate career of over thirty years, she has been part of the Corporate Management Team of multinational companies – Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd, Xerox India Ltd, Reckitt Benckiser Ltd & Max New York Life Insurance Co.  She has been also responsible for Corporate legal matters for The Coca-Cola Company’s subsidiaries in Nepal, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka and has been the Local Ethics Officer for over 15 years.   Her wide-ranging experience includes Joint Venture, Acquisition & Refranchising, Merger, Strategic Alliances, Intellectual Property, Commercials & Manufacturing Operation, Competition Law, Arbitration, Corporate Governance, Environment & Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibilities.

She is presently the Chairperson of two listed entities in Nepal and Independent Director in four entities in India. She has served on several Boards for more than a decade.  She is a speaker in seminars and conference; domestic & international. She has been Committee Member of various industry forums including CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, Institute of Company Secretaries of India with leadership roles in community organization.

She has received several national and international awards and recognition as General Counsel including being listed among the World’s Leading General Counsels. She is also a Mentor to General Counsels and Vice Presidents in India.

Directorship and full-time positions

Ms. Shukla Wassan:  India Glycols Limited

Mr. Ashok Kumar Barat

Non-Executive Independent Director

Mr. Ashok Kumar Barat, aged 67 years is the Fellow member of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and Institute of Company Secretaries of India and also an Associate of Institute of Chartered Accountants of England & Wales.

He has held executive leadership positions in various Indian and multinational organizations, in India and overseas. He holds experience of working with various companies like Hindustan Unilever, Exide, RPG Group, Saud Bahwan Group, Pepsi,

Electrolux and Heinz. He concluded his executive career as the Managing Director and CEO of Forbes & Company Limited.

His professional experiences encompass functional, operational (including P&L), and governance roles. His major functional influence and impact areas are finance, M&A, strategy, audit, management assurance and governance. He has experience in working in diverse roles including operational, staff and stewardship across different industries like FMCG, manufacturing services, and technology. Has effectively led complex commercial, M&A, alliances, dispute negotiations and business transformation projects.

He has also been the past president of Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and The Council of EU Chambers of Commerce in India. He is currently a member of the Managing Committee of ASSOCHAM and special invitee to the Managing Committee of Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Presently, he is a Board member of listed and unlisted entities which inter-alia includes Bata India Limited, Huhtamaki India Limited, Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited, Mahindra Accelo Limited, JSW Paints Private Limited.

Directorship and full-time positions

Mr. Ashok Barat: Everest Industries Limited, Bata India Limited, Huhtamaki India Limited, Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited, Aarti Industries Limited, Eveready Industries India Limited, Mahindra Accelo Limited and JSW Paints Limited

Neeraj Kumar Nanda

Additional Independent Director

Mr. Neeraj Kumar Nanda, aged 63 years, has completed his Executive MBA from INSEAD France, Post
Graduation in Import/Export Management from Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) and B.E. (Mechanical)
from Devi Ahilya University, Indore.
Mr. Nanda has over 41 years of global experience in Marketing, Sales, Projects and P&L Management across
the Power sector value chain, with MNCs including ABB, Alstom and BHEL. Mr. Neeraj Kumar Nanda served as
the President – South Asia for Transmission & Distribution and Solar businesses at KEC International Ltd., an
RPG Group Company. He has diverse international experience across Middle East (UAE, KSA, Iraq, Jordon, etc.)
and SAARC countries; he has worked across sectors including Petroleum, Gas, Coal, Energy, Power Generation
and Power Plants. Mr. Nanda is also very active on Industry Forums like CII, IEEMA, etc.

Nomination & Remuneration Committee

1. Ms. Shukla Wassan - Chairperson
2. Mr. Mahesh Shrikrishna Palashikar - Member

3. Mr. Ashok Kumar Barat- Member

4. Mr. Neeraj Kumar Nanda, Member
Strategy & Innovation Committee:

1. Mr. Neeraj Kumar Nanda, Chairman

2. Mr. Puneet Bhatla- Member

3. Ms. Shukla Wassan -Member

4. Mr. Benu Pillai-Member

5. Mr. Aashish Ghai- Member

6. Mr. Ashok Kumar Barat- Member

Audit Committee: 
1. Mr. Ashok Kumar Barat – Chairman

2. Mr. Neeraj Kumar Nanda, Member

3. Ms. Shukla Wassan - Member
4. Mr. Mahesh Shrikrishna Palashikar – Member

Risk Management Committee:

1. Mr. Mahesh Shrikrishna Palashikar- Chairman
2. Mr. Ashok Kumar Barat – Member
3. Mr. Puneet Bhatla– Member
4. Mr. Aashish Ghai- Member

Stakeholders Relationship Committee:

1. Ms. Shukla Wassan – Chairperson

2. Mr. Aashish Ghai – Member

3. Mr. Puneet Bhatla- Member

Inclusion & Diversity Committee:

1. Ms. Shukla Wassan-Chairperson

2. Mr. Shrikar Thakur, Member

3. Mr. Proasheem Suleebka- Member

4. Ms. Pooja Rawat - Member