People Move · September 2026

Ashish Desai Appointed VP & CHRO at Nandan Petrochem

Ashish Desai joins Nandan Petrochem as VP & CHRO with over 30 years of manufacturing HR and industrial relations experience.

The appointment

Nandan Petrochem Limited (NPL) has appointed Ashish Desai as Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), with the leadership move taking place around September 20?21, 2026. Desai brings more than 30 years of experience across manufacturing HR, industrial relations, employee relations and business HR. He joins Nandan Petrochem from Everest Industries, where he was serving as General Manager & Head – Corporate Industrial Relations.

A career spanning manufacturing and industrial relations

Ashish Desai has built a career of more than three decades in HR, with a strong focus on manufacturing environments, industrial relations and workforce management.

Before joining Nandan Petrochem, Desai was associated with Everest Industries as General Manager & Head – Corporate Industrial Relations. His role focused on industrial relations at the corporate level, adding to his experience in managing employee and workforce-related priorities in an industrial organisation.

Prior to Everest Industries, Desai served as General Manager & Head HR at Mahindra CIE Automotive Ltd., where he led HR and industrial relations for the company's Chakan operations. The role gave him experience in managing people priorities within a manufacturing-intensive business.

Earlier, Desai spent more than five years with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) as AGM & Head HR – Personnel, further building his experience across personnel management, employee relations and industrial HR.

His new role at Nandan Petrochem

As VP & CHRO at Nandan Petrochem, Desai will lead the company's HR function. His mandate covers areas including employee relations, industrial relations, HR leadership and workforce development.

His previous experience across manufacturing and industrial organisations brings a strong operational HR background to the role, particularly in areas where people management and workforce relations are closely connected with business operations.

About Nandan Petrochem

Nandan Petrochem Limited is an Indian manufacturer of engine oils, greases, specialty lubricants and AdBlue (DEF). The company has more than 30 years of industry experience, with operations in India and exports to more than 35 countries.

NPL's portfolio includes more than 2,000 SKUs serving over 15 industries and 40+ OEMs. Its AdBlue business operates through NPL BlueSky Automotive, a joint venture with Germany-based KRUSE Automotive GmbH.

Hire Route Take

Ashish Desai?s appointment highlights a manufacturing-focused HR leadership profile, built over more than 30 years across industrial relations, employee relations and workforce management.

His experience at Everest Industries, Mahindra CIE Automotive and L&T has given him exposure to manufacturing and engineering environments where industrial relations and workforce development are important components of HR leadership.

At Nandan Petrochem, Desai moves into a broader CHRO mandate, bringing this operational and industrial HR experience into leadership of the company's overall people function.

Hire Route will continue tracking the latest HR appointments, leadership movements and people developments across India and global markets.