Sandur Manganese & Iron Ores Limited has reshaped its finance leadership, with the board approving a change in the Chief Financial Officer role at its 385th meeting held on 9 July 2026. Manoj Kumar Jha will take on the CFO duties, in addition to his existing role as Chief Risk Officer, as part of a move to strengthen governance and long-term strategy. Uttam Kumar Bhageria will cease to hold the CFO post from the same date while continuing in other roles within the company.
Manoj Kumar Jha is a chartered accountant with more than three decades of global leadership experience spanning manufacturing, trading and distribution across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas. He has led governance, M&A, fund raising, treasury and risk management, with a track record of scaling businesses and optimizing capital structures. Before joining Sandur, he spent more than a decade in the Tata group, including chief financial officer for Tata Africa Holdings SA and head of finance for Tata International Limited. He also held senior roles with Adani, Olam and other group entities. He has been serving as Chief Risk Officer of Sandur since January 14, 2026.
The board says the dual appointment reflects a governance-driven push for integrated risk and financial oversight as the company pursues its growth agenda in the mining space. Bhageria, by ceasing to be CFO, will continue to perform other roles in the company, indicating a leadership transition rather than a wholesale exit.
Industry watchers will be watching how Jha leverages cross-border exposure to steer Sandur toward stronger capital efficiency and profitability while maintaining a risk-aware approach. The company continues to operate across Karnataka with its mines and plants and remains focused on sustainable value creation for shareholders and stakeholders.