
Nirupama Rao Retires As Independent Director Of KEC International; Vimal Kejriwal Reappointed As CEO & MD
Nirupama Rao retires as an Independent Director of the company effective July 28, 2025, upon completion of her tenure. Vimal Kejriwal has been reappointed as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of KEC International Limited, effective April 1, 2026, subject to the approval of shareholders.
Rao topped the All-India Civil Services Examination in 1973 and joined the Indian Foreign Service. Over her distinguished diplomatic career, she held several key positions, becoming the first woman spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs in 2001. She served as India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka in 2004 and became the first woman Ambassador to China in 2006. From August 2009 to July 2011, she served as Foreign Secretary of India, followed by her tenure as India’s Ambassador to the United States from 2011 to 2013. Rao is the author of The Fractured Himalaya: India, Tibet, China 1949–1962. She currently serves on the Boards of ITC Limited and JSW Steel Limited.
Kejriwal has led KEC International for over two decades, driving strategic acquisitions, global expansion, and sustained profitability. With over 40 years of global experience across infrastructure, oil & gas, pharmaceuticals, fertilisers, and investment banking, he has positioned KEC as a leading global EPC player. He is also a Patron Member of the Construction Federation of India and actively engages with key trade associations. He is a Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary. Kejriwal is an alumnus of the Kellogg School of Management and NMIMS. He chairs the FICCI Transport Infrastructure Committee and holds leadership roles in IEEMA and several CII committees related to power, manufacturing, and renewable energy.