Dr. Hemant Sharad Pande (58) assumed charge as Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Western Coalfields Limited (WCL)on8th May, 2026. Earlier, he served as Director (HR) at WCL from 27 January 2025.Prior to this, he served as AreaGeneral Manager of Raigarh Area, South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a key subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL). With over three decades of extensive experience in coal mining operations, he has been at the forefront of managing both large-scale opencast and underground coal mining projects across various CIL subsidiaries. Dr.Pande holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Technology (M.Tech) in Mining and he has enriched his expertise through various international training programs. He has also obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Management. Dr. Pande embarked on his professional journey with Coal India Limited in 1989 as a Mining Engineer after graduating in Mining Engineering from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur. Over the years, he has accumulated 20 years of service in WCLand16 years in SECL, contributing significantly to the coal sector. With a distinguished career spanning 36 years, Dr. Hemant Sharad Pande brings a rich blend of technical acumen, stakeholder management, employee engagement, contract execution and industrial relations expertise. He has also played a significant role in implementing various IT initiatives related to medical, legal, and employee service matters.His relentlesscommitment to innovation and sustainable mining practicesis set to significantly benefit Western Coalfields Limited and the Indian coal industry as a whole. Dr. Hemant Sharad Pande has participated in several international mining expeditions and professional visits to countries including France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, and Netherlands. Additionally, he was part of the Indian delegation at the Prospectors and Developers Association (PDAC) conference in Toronto, Canada, participating in crucial global business discussions. Dr. Pande has been conferred with many Awards during his 36 years of service in Coal Industry.Recently, another feather has been added to the cap of Dr. Hemant Sharad Pande, CMD, WCL. He has been conferred with the prestigious “Digital Transformation Leader of the Year” Award by Hon’ble Member of Lok Sabha, Shri Anurag Thakur, at the 11th PSU IT Forum & Awards Ceremony organized by Governance Now in New Delhi on 29 May 2026. In a remarkable recognition of WCL’s digital transformation journey, the organization was also honoured for its flagship initiatives — the “Swasth Portal” in the category of “Best IT Implemented Project” and the “DMS (Dispensary Management System)” in the category of “IT Innovation” under the leadership of Dr.Hemant Sharad Pande. These achievements stand as a strong testament to the visionary leadership of Dr. Hemant Sharad Pande and his unwavering commitment towards building a Digital WCL driven by transparency, efficiency, and technology-led governance.