S Sundareshan new petroleum secretary

S Sundareshan today took over as the new petroleum secretary.

A 1976 batch IAS officer of Kerela cadre, Sundareshan succeeded RS Pandey, who demitted office on superannuation.

"A man of diverse experience, Shri Sundareshan has worked at senior level for close to three years in the ministry as additional secretary and special secretary since April-2007," an official statement said here.

He has also been chairman, forward markets commission, putting in place necessary regulation and structures for the growth of commodities future market.

An MBA from University of Leeds, UK, Sundareshan held several important positions in the government of India, including joint secretary in the department of economic affairs (ministry of finance), minister (economic and commercial), embassy of India, Tokyo and joint chief controller of imports & exports (ministry of commerce). 

He also handled important assignments in his cadre state Kerala. These include principal secretary (Revenue), secretary (department of expenditure), managing director (MD), Kerala
state milk marketing federation, MD, Kerala fisheries
corporation, besides working as CEO of different state public
sectors undertaking for six years.

Sundareshan was born on October 28 1952. He did his Masters from university of Mumbai before joining the 1976 batch of Indian Administrative Service.

As the chairman of forward markets commission during 2005
to 2007, he put in place regulation and structures for the
commodities future market and established trading in close to
100 commodities including bullion, metals, crude, fibre and
agricultural commodities.