GMM Pfaudler appoints Mr. Prakash Apte as an Independent Director

The Board of Directors appointed Mr. Prakash Apte as an Independent Director of the Company, effective May 25, 2022, for a continuous period of five years, subject to approval of the shareholders. Mr. Apte shall succeed as Chairman of the Company post retirement of Dr. S. Sivaram, scheduled on the date of the 59th AGM.

Mr. Prakash Apte is the Chairman of Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited and serves on the Boards of Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company Limited, Fine Organic Industries Limited and Blue Dart Express Limited as an Independent Director. Prior to joining Kotak Mahindra, Mr. Apte served as a Non-Executive Chairman of Syngenta India Limited, an agricultural business company in India and a subsidiary of Syngenta Group, from May 2011 till September 2021 and as its Managing Director from November 2000 to April 2011.

Mr. Apte's professional career spans over 40 years with a wide range of experience in management and leadership as well as an in-depth knowledge of the agrochemicals and speciality chemicals industries. Mr. Apte was instrumental in setting up Syngenta Foundation India in 2005 which focuses on educating and providing resources to marginal farmers and facilitating rural entrepreneurship. In 2016, he was involved in setting up of the lndo Swiss Centre of Excellence which aims to provide world class training in advanced vocational skills. Mr. Apte has served on the Boards of both these not-for-profit entities till mid-2021.

Mr. Apte has a B.E. (Mech) degree from the University of Pune and a Diploma in Business Management from University of Mumbai. He has also attended executive and leadership development programs at Harvard Business School, INSEAD and IMD.