Leadership Team

Sanjay has been Chairman of Gulf Oil International Limited for over 20 years and is responsible for leading Gulf’s global strategy and expansion. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Gulf Oil International Ltd and Gulf Oil Middle East Limited, Gulf Oil Philippines Inc., Sangam Limited, Gulf Oil Marine Limited, and is also the Chairman of Gulf Oil Lubricants India Limited.​

Sanjay currently serves as a trustee of the Hinduja Foundation UK, which is responsible for the Hinduja Family philanthropic activities in the UK.​

A third-generation member of the Hinduja Family, Shom Ashok Hinduja is the President - Alternative Energy and Sustainability Initiatives, at the Hinduja Group.​

Shom has led the group's foray into the alternative energy sector and serves as the Chairman of the group’s Renewable Energy business. He also drives and participates in execution of Sustainability initiatives globally across various companies of the Group. Under him, the group is venturing into the next generation transformative spaces like Electric Mobility, Battery Technology, and Cyber Security amongst others.​

He is a prominent contributor in group’s strategy development initiatives, risk framework development and investments in start- ups. He’s actively involved in Hinduja foundation’s philanthropic work in areas of clean water, solar lighting, healthcare, education.​

Prior to joining the offices in Mumbai, Shom, worked in the financial Due Diligence practice at KPMG, New York as part of M&A team.​

Shom holds a B.A. in Sustainable Development and an M.S. in Sustainability Management from Columbia University, NY.​

​Arvind is the Non-Executive Chairman of Whirlpool of India Ltd., along with being on a number of public listed boards the likes of Gulf Oil lubricants India Ltd., Akzo Nobel India (Until 2021) and an Industry advisor to Advent International, Arvind was President Asia Pacific for Whirlpool Corporation India Ltd until Dec. 2017 and is credited with the dramatic turnaround of its India operations.

He has over thirty-one years of experience in the consumer industry.. Mr. Uppal was President Asia Pacific for Whirlpool Corporation India Ltd until December 2017 and is credited with the dramatic turnaround of its India operations. Prior to Whirlpool, Arvind worked at Nestle for over 18 years in India, Switzerland, China and Southeast Asia. Recognized as an astute strategist, with a proven track record of having turned around businesses in both the durables and non- durables across many countries.​

A game changer and a mentor to many start-ups with demonstrable leadership skills.

​Arvind HAS a B.Tech degree from IIT Delhi and is a postgraduate in Management from the Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi. He has​ over 30 years of experience in Business Development, International Marketing and General Management.

Manju Agarwal has over 34 years of banking experience in State Bank of India in leadership positions in India and overseas. Her core expertise and key achievements include Retail Banking, Financial Inclusion, Customer Service and Operations. She led SBI’s partnership with Reliance Industries Limited to set up Jio Payment Bank Ltd. She conceptualized and launched YONO, SBI’s Digital Bank, Financial Superstore & Online marketplace (one of its kind in the Industry).

She headed SBI’s debit card strategy, Merchant Acquiring business, Government business and Transaction Banking Business. She drove process optimization relating to product, service delivery and improved customer experience. She also led SBI’s Jan Dhan program and was associated with setting up of SBI’s Pension Fund Subsidiary in 2007.​

She is a Postgraduate from the University of Allahabad, 1978 and an Associate of the Indian Institute of Bankers, 1989. She is currently serving on the Board of various entities including Glenmark Life Sciences Ltd, CMS Info Systems Ltd, PayTm Payments Bank Ltd, IndiaIdeas.com Ltd, Switch Mobility Automotive Ltd, Inspira Enterprise India Ltd, IFFCO Kisan Finance Limited, Hinduja Leyland Finance Limited, Vistaar Financial Services Private Limited.​

In 1985, after completing his CA, Munesh joined the accounting and advisory firm of Arthur Andersen and rose to become the Country Head-India of its Corporate Finance Division. In 2001, he assumed responsibility as Managing Director and Country Head of NM Rothchild and Co in India. His work experience also includes Country Head of Investment Banking at DSP Merrill Lynch and Country Leader of Corporate Finance and Restructuring at PricewaterhouseCoopers.​

His expertise includes extensive understanding of tax, corporate affairs, corporate finance, strategy and business restructuring. He has been involved in some of the most complex transactions in India, such as The Enron Dabhol Power company restructuring, the acquisition of Tetley Tea by Tata Tea, listing of Cairn Energy in India among others.

He has also been a Board Member of Arvind Limited and Indofil Industries Limited and also an executive member of professional and industry trade bodies. In 2018, he established Backbay Advisors LLP, a strategy advisory and investment banking firm.

Munesh now runs his own corporate & strategic advisory and investment banking firm, Backbay Advisors LLP, established in 2018. On May 19, 2022, this Partnership firm was converted and incorporated as Backbay Advisors Private Limited. Munesh Khanna is a Bachelor of Commerce from the Guru Nanak Dev University, Punjab and a Chartered Accountant (CA) from ICAI, India.​

For over 35+ years, Nirvik has been a proven leader and trusted advisor in the marketing and advertising industry, developing some of the world’s most iconic brands, transforming marketing models for success in a digital - first world and helping organisations become customer centric that helps drive growth.

Till 2024, he has been Global Chief Operating Officer and President International Markets of Grey Group, which is part of the WPP Group. In this role, oversees all operation of Grey Group in Europe, Latin America, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific (35 offices / 3500 people). He has worked across five continents and various industry sectors and categories.

He has led several acquisitions done by the Grey Group in China, India, South Korea, Thailand, UAE, UK and South Africa. These acquisitions range from E- Commerce to Data, Shopper Marketing and Martech companies.

He began his career with Lipton India, a Unilever company. After 3 years – he moved to advertising and marketing communications. He was appointed CEO of Grey Group India at the age of 33 and led its transformation. Nirvik became Chief Operating Officer of Grey South Asia in 1997, expanding the network’s reach to Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Bangladesh and then appointed Chairman and CEO of Asia Pacific in 2010 and relocated to Singapore. In 2019, he was named Global COO and President International Markets.

Apart from his operating roles, Nirvik has served on various boards

- In 2024, he joined Hype Luxury (the World’s largest aggregator in Luxury Mobility) as Chairman.

- In 2013, he joined the board of Shoppers Stop, the leading $800 mn market cap retail company, where he chaired the NRC. He is currently a Non- Executive Director.

- In 2020 Campaign Magazine named him as the Best Advertising CEO, Asia Pacific. The Internationalist – NYC -nominated him onto their 2014 Agency Innovators’ list, and the Advertising Club Calcutta inducted him to their “Hall of Fame” in honour of his contribution to the Communications Industry in India.

- He has been awarded India’s Bharat Nirman Rattan Award for outstanding individual achievements and distinguished services by the National Integration and Economic Council. In 2018, was awarded India’s ‘Hind Rattan Award’ for influence / service to India by an NRI.

- After schooling at St Lawrence, Sanawar, he completed his initial degree from Calcutta University in 1985. Nirvik has attended Leadership and Executive programmes at both Harvard University and at Singularity University in Silicon Valley.

Mr. Ravi Chawla holds a Bachelors Degree in Commerce from Sydenham College, Mumbai University. He also holds a Master in Management Studies degree (specializing in Marketing) from Mumbai University. He has over 28 years of professional experience in sales, marketing & management across diverse sectors in Indian companies and MNCs with organisations like Wipro Consumer Products Ltd., CEAT Ltd, Polaroid, Pennzoil- Quaker State India Ltd. (was part of Royal Dutch Shell Group of Companies) & Mahindra and Mahindra (Farm Equipment Division) before joining Gulf Oil Corporation Ltd in 2007. He has held positions responsible for all areas of marketing, business development, sales via channel & B2B & general management for the last 24 years with country level responsibility.​

He has extensive experience of over 18 years in the lubricants space with Pennzoil (1998 to 2006) & in Gulf Oil (since 2007). With Gulf Oil, he joined as President for the Lubricants business in 2007 and was later designated as President & CEO – Lubricants business, after leading the organisation to become the fastest growing company amongst the top lubricant players. Since, June 2014, he is appointed as Managing Director of the Company. He is also on the Board of some other Gulf group companies and advising them at a strategic level.​

Mr. Manish Kumar Gangwal, aged 53 years, is currently serving as the Chief Financial Officer & President (Strategic Sourcing, IT & Legal) of Gulf Oil Lubricants India Limited (GOLIL), a part of Hinduja Group.

He is a Chartered Accountant (rank holder), Company Secretary and Graduate Member of the ICMAI by qualification.

Mr. Gangwal brings in over 30 years of rich professional experience spanning various areas including Finance, Corporate planning, Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions, Fund raising, Investor relations, Corporate Governance, Accounting and Audits, Company Secretarial practice, Taxation, etc.

Before assuming his current role as CFO in the Company, he was associated with reputed organizations such as Gulf Oil Corporation Limited, Poddar Pigments Limited and Hindustan Development Corporation Limited. During his tenure with GOLIL, he has also served as a Board Member and Finance Cluster Lead for several South East Asia Gulf entities.

Over the last 17 years of his financial leadership, GOLIL has grown multifold in terms of Revenues and Profits. In addition to his financial stewardship, he is also playing a key role in the e-Mobility foray of GOLIL, contributing to GOLIL’s strategic diversification and future readiness.