India is on the lookout for a new BSNL chairman and managing director.
The head-hunt has been kicked off at a stage when present BSNL chairman AK Sinha still has over nine months of service.
Sinha retires on June 30, 2007.
Interestingly, the government has for the first time decided to align the profile of the future BSNL chairman along the lines of CEOs of private telecom companies.
For starters, an internal circular issued by the public enterprises selection board categorically notes that 'the future CMD of BSNL should preferably hold an MBA degree and have adequate managerial experience at the highest levels in a large organization of repute.'
But the biggest surprise in the future BSNL CEO profile, is that the incumbent needn't be a true-blue telecom professional.
The PESB circular does not consider it mandatory for potential canditates to have a telecom industry background.
The government has pegged the minimum eligibility age of the future BSNL chairman at 45 years, which opens up the possibility for the selected candidate to put 15 years of service at the BSNL helm.
Over the years, BSNL chairmen have assumed the reins at the state-owned telecoms behemoth when well into their fifties, few years short of retirement.