M.N.V.S. Prabhakar assumed charge as the chairman-cum-managing director (CMD) of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, on Tuesday.

A seasoned technocrat with over three decades of experience in the Indian steel sector, Mr. Prabhakar’s appointment comes at a critical period as the public sector undertaking navigates challenges related to operational strengthening and financial sustainability.

Prior to his current assignment, Mr. Prabhakar served as the executive director of NMDC Steel Limited (NSL), where he was credited with leading significant operational and financial turnaround initiatives.

An alumnus of VRCE, Nagpur, where he completed his Bachelor of Engineering in Metallurgy, Mr. Prabhakar began his career with the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) in 1991 as a management trainee.

The appointment of Mr. Prabhakar as the CMD marks the end of a long period of temporary leadership at the helm of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.

The position of full-time CMD had been vacant since the retirement of Atul Bhatt on November 30, 2024. During this interim period, the Ministry of Steel had assigned additional charges to various officials to oversee the plant’s operations.

Initially, the responsibility was given to A.K. Singh, the CMD of MSTC, and later to various senior ministry officials and heads of other steel PSUs. This prolonged vacancy had sparked concerns among trade unions and stakeholders regarding the delay in long-term strategic decision-making for the plant.