Praj Industries has appointed Ashish Gaikwad as Managing Director-Designate, effective February 3, 2025. This transition is a key milestone in the company’s growth trajectory.
Shishir Joshipura, CEO & MD, will step down on June 30, 2025, and Gaikwad will take over. Over the upcoming months, Gaikwad will collaborate closely with Joshipura and the leadership group to guarantee a smooth transition and the continuation of Praj’s strategic goals.
With over 34 years of experience in industrial automation, digitalization, process technology, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and autonomous manufacturing, Gaikwad brings extensive expertise to his new role. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honors) in Electrical & Electronics from BITS Pilani, India. Prior to joining Praj, Gaikwad led Honeywell Automation India Ltd. as Managing Director for more than seven years. He has held diverse leadership roles across India, Southeast Asia, Asia Pacific, and the USA, with experience in project engineering, sales leadership, strategy, business management, and corporate governance.
Dr. Pramod Chaudhari, Founder Chairman of Praj Industries, expressed his excitement about Gaikwad’s appointment, stating, “We are delighted to welcome Mr. Ashish Gaikwad to Praj Industries. His deep industry expertise and global leadership experience will be instrumental in driving our innovation-led growth strategy. Under his guidance, Praj will continue to advance its vision of a sustainable bioeconomy.”
