Petronet LNG Limited has appointed Sanjay Kumar, currently Director (Marketing) at GAIL (India) Limited, as its next Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Kumar will take charge on May 13, 2027, following the completion of the extended tenure of incumbent MD and CEO Akshay Kumar Singh on May 12, 2027. The appointment was approved by the Petronet LNG Board at its meeting on October 2, based on the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee.
Sanjay Kumar to Take Over in May 2027
Kumar will succeed Akshay Kumar Singh, who has been leading Petronet LNG since February 1, 2021. Singh had joined the company after serving as Director (Pipelines) at Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and was initially appointed for a five-year term. His tenure was subsequently extended by Petronet LNG in January 2026.
The leadership transition will take effect when Singh’s extended term ends on May 12, 2027.
Three Decades of Experience at GAIL
Sanjay Kumar has been serving as Director (Marketing), GAIL, since June 15, 2023. He joined GAIL in 1988 and has accumulated more than 35 years of experience in the natural gas industry.
His career has covered several areas of the gas business, including gas marketing, LNG sourcing and trading, LNG shipping, business development, gas transmission, project management, and pipeline operations and maintenance.
Kumar is a Mechanical Engineering graduate from IIT Kharagpur and also holds an MBA.
Experience in LNG Trading and International Business
LNG trading has been an important part of Kumar’s professional experience. In 2011, he established GAIL Global (Singapore) Pte Limited, which GAIL describes as its first overseas LNG trading subsidiary and the first such overseas LNG trading subsidiary established by an Indian oil and gas public sector undertaking.
He has also served as GAIL’s nominee director on the boards of GAIL Global (Singapore) and Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited.
Former MD of Indraprastha Gas
Before joining the GAIL Board, Kumar served as Managing Director of Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) from April 2022. IGL is the city gas distribution company serving Delhi and surrounding areas.
He subsequently returned to the IGL Board as an Additional Director with effect from January 14, 2025.
Petronet LNG Ownership Structure
Petronet LNG is promoted by four major state-owned energy companies — GAIL, Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).
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Each of the four promoters holds a 12.5% stake in Petronet LNG, while the remaining shareholding is held by the public.
With Kumar’s extensive experience across natural gas marketing, LNG trading, transmission and business development, his appointment will bring a seasoned industry professional to the leadership of Petronet LNG as the company prepares for the next phase of its growth.