Shishir Joshipura joins Praj Industries as CEO and MD

Praj Industries, a global process solutions company, has appointed Shishir Joshipura as its CEO and managing director, with effect from April 2, 2018. Prior to joining Praj, he was managing director and country manager of SKF India from 2009. 

Joshipura is a mechanical Engineer from BITS Pilani and an Advanced Management Graduate from Harvard Business School.

Commenting on the appointment, Pramod Chaudhari, executive chairman of Praj Industries, said, “I welcome Shishir on board as the new CEO and managing director at Praj. He brings with him over 35 years of track record at various leadership levels, deep understanding of local and global markets, besides sound industry background. We are confident that Shishir will steer Praj through the next phase of growth. Demand for renewable fuels has been growing at an exponential rate and we anticipate ethanol to emerge as the preferred choice given its properties as clean and sustainable fuel”.

“Businesses around the world have strong focus on sustainability from the energy, economic and environmental considerations,” said Joshipura. “With global renewable energy industry gaining momentum, the bio-energy space presents unprecedented opportunity. Praj is one of the leading players in the bio-energy solutions, globally. The unfolding opportunity presents a canvas for driving Praj’s growth to next level and I am looking forward to lead this exciting journey.”

Praj is a major global player in environment, energy and agri-processing-led applications. The company is a frontrunner in the second-generation ethanol technology. Praj’s own and India’s first integrated second-generation demonstration bio-refinery has been operational since December 2016. Indian oil marketing companies are setting up many second-gen bio-refineries in India, where Praj has been selected as the technology partner for multiple projects. Also, several overseas customers are discussing Praj’s this technology for bio-refinery plants in different countries.