Mr. K. Venkataramanan, Member of the Board and President (Operations), Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T), was elected president of the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IIChE) at its meeting in Bharuch. He will hold office in the 60th (diamond jubilee) year of the institute. Established in 1947, the IIChE is the apex professional society of chemical engineers in India, with over 18,000 members on its rolls. It has emerged as a national platform overseeing the interests of the academia as well as industry in the field of chemical engineering and allied sciences.
The president elect said he would direct his efforts to build on the historical traditions of the institute to expand its role and relevance in contemporary industry and society. Making particular mention of the youth, Mr. Venkataramanan said the institute would enhance its engagements with young chemical engineers and provide avenues to help them enhance their capabilities and expertise.
The president’s post follows recognition of Mr. Venkataramanan’s contribution in setting globally accepted benchmarks for Indian industry in project engineering, execution and management. Under Mr. Venkataramanan’s leadership, L&T’s Engineering & Construction Division has set up projects in the Middle East, Africa, Sri Lanka, South East Asia and Australia. The company has been cited as the only Indian company with project execution capabilities of international caliber and has made a major contribution to the indigenizing of India’s oil and gas exploration sector by executing a number of the large well-head and process platforms currently deployed in Bombay High.
With its head quarters in Kolkatta, the IIChE has 40 regional centres as well as 52 student chapters. Its activities are governed by a council of 21 elected representatives from industry and academia.
