Sandur Manganese & Iron Ores Appoints New CEO and COO

The Sandur Manganese & Iron Ores Limited (‘SMIORE’ or ‘the Company’), a leading player in the mining and metals industry, is pleased to announce the appointment of Krishnendu Sanyal as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Manjunath Prabhu as Chief Operating Officer (COO). These leadership appointments are aimed at augmenting the Company’s management bandwidth and driving forward its ambitious plans for integration and sustainability in the metals & mining industry. Krishnendu Sanyal, the newly appointed CEO, brings ~32 years of experience in strategic, financial, and operational leadership. His illustrious career spans across major companies such as Tata Steel in India and Sri Lanka, The Siam Industrial Wire Co. in Thailand, and Sedibeng Iron Ore in South Africa. Krishnendu has global experience and a proven track record in turning around and expanding operations, and creating value through acquisitions, integrations, and divestments. He has valuable domestic and international experience with one of the country’s largest companies whose core values resonate with that of SMIORE. He has led various roles and undertaken responsibilities in business sustainability, management change, and new business development across different geographies. His past experience perfectly aligns with SMIORE’s future endeavours. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering coupled with a Master’s in Business Administration. He has also participated in Tata Group Strategic Leadership Program from Harvard Business School. Manjunath Prabhu, the newly appointed COO, also has ~36 years of experience in operations, leadership, and strategic planning. His extensive background includes significant roles at JSW Steel, Vijayanagar; Essar Steel, Visakhapatnam; and KOICL, Mangalore. Manjunath has a deep understanding of the Ballari region’s metals and mining operations and expertise in various facets of operations including production, project commissioning, land acquisition, beneficiation, and raw material handling system (RMHS), among others. He is a Mechanical Engineering graduate by qualification and was part of the Future Fit Leader by Cornell University from 2016-19. Commenting on this milestone, Bahirji A. Ghorpade, Managing Director, SMIORE said: “This is a strategic initiative to augment our management bandwidth and bolster our leadership as we march forward with our plans to cement our position in the industry. As we transition towards a sustainable and integrated future, building the required management bandwidth to drive the execution of our strategic priorities is crucial. We are excited to welcome Krishnendu and Manjunath to the SMIORE family. With his global experience with steel industry majors, Krishnendu’s expertise in various facets of the industry and strategic leadership will be a valuable addition. At the same time, Manjunath’s long stint with one of India’s leading steel players and his experience in Bellari’s metals & mining operations will be an invaluable asset. I look forward to working closely with both of them, as we scale new heights and continue to innovate and excel, creating a future-ready organisation poised for sustainable value creation.” Speaking on being appointed as the CEO of SMIORE, Krishnendu Sanyal, said:
“I am excited to be part of SMIORE’s promising transition to an integrated and sustainable metals and mining powerhouse. With many potent triggers in the offing, including its recent mining expansion, SMIORE is on a path to creating a lasting legacy in the Indian metals & mining industry.”

Speaking on being appointed as the COO of SMIORE, Manjunath Prabhu, said: “Having been working in the Bellari region since 1996, I have observed up close how SMIORE has run one of the best mining operations in the country. I have great respect and admiration for the SMIORE brand, and I am excited to contribute to its journey of transitioning beyond mining into other facets of the industry.”