Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited announced that Atul Kirloskar will retire as Chairman of the Board effective 31 March 2026, upon reaching the retirement age of 70 years. The board has appointed Rahul Kirloskar, currently a Non Executive Director of the company, as Chairperson, while Managing Director Gauri Kirloskar will assume the additional role of Vice Chairperson.
The transition is part of the company’s succession planning process. Rahul Kirloskar will take over as Chairperson of the board, and Gauri Kirloskar will continue in her role as Managing Director alongside her new responsibility as Vice Chairperson.
Atul Kirloskar has been associated with the company for more than 43 years in executive and non executive roles. He joined the company in 1983 and was appointed Executive Vice President of the erstwhile Kirloskar Oil Engines, now known as Kirloskar Industries Limited, in November 1984. He was co opted on the board in August 1985, where he took over as Managing Director.
In 1988, he was appointed Vice Chairman of the erstwhile Kirloskar Oil Engines and held that role until July 1998, when he was elected Chairman and Managing Director of the board. Following a proposed demerger in January 2009 that was completed in March 2010, he was appointed to the board of Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited and served as Managing Director from 31 March 2010 to 25 January 2012.
He later served as Executive Director and Chairman from January 2012 to March 2023 and thereafter continued as Non Executive Director and Chairman of the company.
“It has been a true privilege to be part of KOEL’s journey over the years. We have been working on this transition for the last couple of years, as a planned succession. I believe that timely and planned succession is very important for the Company. It is also important that the new leadership gets the freedom to take the Company forward, in line with their vision and plans. From this context, I have decided to step down completely from the Board and all positions in the Company. I wish Rahul and Gauri the very best, I am confident that we have the right team to take KOEL to new heights,” said Atul Kirloskar.
“I thank Atul for his service to the Company over the years. As I step into this role, I intend to take forward the great work that was done in the Company under Atul’s leadership and look forward to working with Gauri and the management team to take the Company towards its goals,” said Rahul Kirloskar.
Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited manufactures generator sets, internal combustion engines and farm equipment. The company produces air cooled and liquid cooled engines for generator sets across power outputs ranging from 3 kVA to 12,000 kVA and also manufactures engines for construction equipment, diesel and electric pump sets, power tillers and specialised fishing engines. It also develops engines capable of operating on alternative fuels including biodiesel, natural gas and biogas.
