Ranbir Singh Butola: Hybrid CEO

Ranbir Sing Butola has been described by a close associate as a “hybrid CEO”. He is currently the chairman of Indian Oil. This is no ordinary company being the largest public firm in India in terms of revenue. In fact it is ranked as one of the largest 100 companies in the whole wide world by Fortune 500.  The company has a 34,233 workforce and sales turnover of $85.6 billion in 2012 with profits of $825 million.

Butola started his career in the financial sector working for a nationalized bank. He then entered the energy industry in 2001 joining ONGC (OVL). Under his leadership he has built an impressive exploration and production portfolio in more than 15 countries.

What is most challenging for Butola and why he’s described as a hybrid CEO is because the owner of Indian Oil and OVL is the Indian government.  He has been running business in a private environment yet also has to contend with the owner that has its own agenda which to say the least is political in nature. Butola has to deal with such issues as selling fuel below market price.

Nevertheless he has shown his ability to balance private market place realities with government priorities. No doubt he is one hybrid CEO.