RHI Magnesita India Limited, the Gurugram-based refractories maker formerly known as Orient Refractories, has tapped Pankaj Malhan to steer the company as both Director and Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer. The appointment, approved by shareholders at the 16th Annual General Meeting held on September 29, 2026, comes with a five-year mandate running from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2031, signaling a consolidated leadership hand at the helm.
Mr. Malhan arrives with three decades of leadership experience spanning steel, manufacturing, industrial materials, and infrastructure. A veteran builder of growth and operational turnaround, he previously served as Executive Director-Odisha at Jindal Steel and more recently led the Sales and Marketing function for Jindal Steel. His career is marked by a track record of transforming businesses, strengthening governance, and delivering stakeholder value in highly competitive sectors. He holds a B.Tech in Instrumentation and Control from NIT Jalandhar and an MBA from XLRI Jamshedpur, credentials that align with a profile built on both technical and strategic leadership.
In addition to his appointment as MD & CEO, Malhan will also serve as a Director of the company. His prior board experience includes stints on the boards of JSW Steel Coated Products Limited, ESL Steel Limited, and Ferro Alloys Corporation Limited, underscoring a breadth of governance exposure. Company insiders note that the move places a high-caliber operator at the center of RHI Magnesita India’s next phase of growth, with expectations of driving operational excellence and sustained profitability across the organization.