Indian govt mulls talent pool for succession plan

The Indian government is planning to set up a ‘talent pool’ to deal with the succession planning in the PSU general insurance sector.

Finance Ministry officials had recently told insurers that the government will create a ‘talent pool’ of officials who will be eligible for the fast-track promotions to hold the top positions of the public sector general insurance companies. The Bank Board Bureau (BBB) had recently selected CEOs for ten PSU banks from executive directors of PSU banks and deputy managing directors of SBI.

The PSU general insurance industry will see retirement of senior officials in the next two-three years and there are not many who will be eligible for the top positions of these companies. The post of the chairman and managing director (CMD) at United India Insurance hasn’t been filled as yet as the appointee — Girish Radhakrishnan, chief executive officer, NIA’s London operation — is yet to get regulatory clearance to get relieved from his present assignment, stated a report in The Indian Express. New India Assurance is also operating without a CEO.

Though the merger of United India, National Insurance and Oriental Insurance have been announced, the issue was not part of the agenda at the last month’s convention, indicating that the merger issue has been shelved and the current focus is to strengthen these companies. The two-day conclave had a brain storming session on the six-point agenda: product & risk management, HR practices, talent, distribution, technology & digital, customer experience & operation and inclusive Growth. The summit also identified 36 micro issues for which action plans will be developed.