M.K. Biswas is currently serving as executive director of the Risk Management and Total Quality Management department, as well as chief risk officer at GAIL (India) Limited. He has been leading these departments since June 2024. In his current role, he oversees quality projects, customer value management systems and customer satisfaction index surveys and related areas. Overall, Biswas has a total experience of around 35 years.
GAIL operates diverse and multiple business verticals, such as the gas value chain with petrochemicals, the nationwide transmission and distribution of natural gas through cross-country pipelines, and the handling of liquefied petroleum gas (LNG) from the US, Russia, Qatar and Australia through term contracts and spot purchases. The company then markets LNG in India in the form of regasified LNG.
He previously served as chief general manager, zonal chief general manager and marketing head. Prior to this, he also held various positions at GAIL, including general manager (corporate planning), deputy general manager (project development), and chief manager, senior manager, and deputy manager for operations and technical services.
According to Biswas, a key trend is the ongoing expansion of the national gas grid, which aims to enhance connectivity across India and reach all major regions. He adds, “Risk management and mitigation strategies are key areas of concern to address in order to make the company more resilient.”
As a manager, Biswas likes to lead with a light-hearted and baggage-free approach, encouraging creativity and the exploration of new areas of activity. He adds, “To avoid crises, we manage risks. However, if risks are not managed well, we must then handle the crises through standard operating procedures, emergency action plans and procedures.”
During his tenure, Biswas trained in the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, IIM Calcutta and many other reputed institutions and training centres. He has represented GAIL at the International Gas Union as a PGCA member and participated in SD activities at GRI Amsterdam. He has also attended the SABIT programme in the US, and has been a speaker, moderator and panellist at numerous seminars. During his free time, Biswas likes to play the harmonium and sing ghazals.
Biswas holds a BTech in chemical engineering from IIT Kharagpur and an MBA from IGNOU, New Delhi. He is a certified energy manager accredited by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power.