Astec LifeSciences Ltd on Monday (April 13) announced a series of board and senior management changes, including the retirement of Nadir Godrej as chairperson and director and the appointment of Vishal Sharma as chairperson, alongside several other key leadership transitions.
The board noted the retirement of Nadir Godrej as chairperson and director of the company with effect from the close of business hours on April 13, 2026. The company stated that it had received his letter of willingness to retire and step down from the board.
In a key leadership change, the board approved the appointment of Vishal Sharma as additional director (non-executive, non-independent) with effect from April 13, 2026, subject to shareholder approval, and also designated him as chairperson of the board from the same date. Sharma currently serves as executive director and chief executive officer (chemicals) at Godrej Industries Limited, the ultimate holding company.
Also Read: Adi Godrej and family makes open offer to acquire 26% stake in Astec Lifesciences
The filing stated that Sharma has around 30 years of experience in specialty and process chemicals across industrial and institutional segments. His career spans roles across Asia Pacific, India, the Middle East, and Africa, including leadership positions at Ecolab Inc, Diversey Inc, and GE.
His responsibilities have included operational leadership, strategic roles, and business scale-up initiatives. He holds a post-graduate diploma in management from IMDR Pune and a bachelor’s degree in engineering from MIT Manipal.
The board also noted the resignation of Burjis N. Godrej from the position of managing director of the company with immediate effect. He expressed his intention to focus on deeper and broader involvement in Godrej Agrovet Limited, the parent company. However, he conveyed a willingness to continue as a non-executive director.
Following this, the board approved his appointment as an additional director (non-executive, non-independent) with effect from April 13, 2026, subject to shareholder approval. Burjis N. Godrej is currently an executive director at Godrej Agrovet Ltd and had earlier served as managing director of Astec LifeSciences Ltd from 2025 to 2026.
Also Read: Stock Crash: Godrej Group share falls 20% from peak, extending losses post Q4 results
He also held the position of chief operating officer of the crop care business of Godrej Agrovet during 2023–2024. He holds degrees from Stanford University and Harvard Business School.
In another appointment, the board approved the designation of Mathew Eipe as additional, non-executive, independent director for a term from April 13, 2026, to June 6, 2027, subject to shareholder approval.
Eipe is an independent director at Godrej Industries Ltd and has held multiple senior leadership roles within the group, including president (chemicals) and executive director during his earlier executive tenure. He also served on the Group Management Committee from 1994 to 2013.
The board further approved the appointment of Arijit Mukherjee as additional director and executive director, designated as executive director & chief operating officer, for a three-year term from April 13, 2026, to April 12, 2029, subject to shareholder approval. He will continue in his role as chief operating officer.
Mukherjee has over 20 years of experience in agri inputs, sales, marketing, manufacturing, and B2B/CDMO operations. He has been associated with Godrej Agrovet Limited since 2005 and previously served as chief operating officer of Astec LifeSciences Ltd from 2016.
Also Read: Astec Lifesciences shares drop most in nearly three years after earnings miss
The company noted that not all appointees are debarred from holding office as directors under SEBI or other regulatory orders.
Following these changes, the board composition will comprise 10 directors, including five independent directors and five non-independent directors.
The 40th annual general meeting of the company will be held on July 20, 2026. The record date for the AGM and dividend payment has been fixed as July 3, 2026. The dividend, if approved at the AGM, will be paid or dispatched after July 20, 2026, within the stipulated timelines.
Shares of Astec LifeSciences Limited ended at ₹634, down by ₹25.70, or 3.90%, on the BSE today, April 17.
