In a surprising development, the Board of the Fertiliser Association of India (FAI), which serves as the leading organization for the ₹982-billion fertiliser sector, has relieved Sailesh C. Mehta of his duties as Chairman just six months after his appointment. S. Sankarasubramanian has been elected as the new Chairman.
The FAI announced the decision through a notice on its website following a Board meeting held on October 31. Sankarasubramanian currently serves as the Managing Director and CEO of Coromandel International.
Mehta, who is also the Chairman and Managing Director of Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation, took over FAI’s leadership in June, succeeding N. Suresh Krishnan of Paradeep Phosphates. His term was expected to last two years. Sources indicate that Mehta submitted his resignation only days before the Board meeting took place.
During Krishnan’s tenure as Chairman from December 2022 to May 2025, Mehta served as Co-Chairman of FAI, and he previously held the Chair of FAI’s western region for over five years.
Before his elevation to Chairman, Sankarasubramanian was Co-Chairman alongside Siba Prasad Mohanty, who is the Managing Director of Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Limited (HURL).
With over 30 years of experience in finance, strategy, and general management, Sankarasubramanian has significantly contributed to Coromandel’s development since joining the group’s sugar division E.I.D. Parry (India) in 1993. He moved to Coromandel in 2003, where he served as Chief Financial Officer before advancing to Executive Director of the nutrient business.
Mohanty, the current Co-Chairman of FAI, has more than 36 years of diverse experience in various public sector units within the agri-input industry. He began his career at Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertiliser (RCF) in 1989 and has held key positions including Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Insecticides Ltd (HIL) and Chairman and Managing Director of Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizers Corporation Limited (BVFCL) until his recent transition to HURL.
This change in leadership marks a significant shift for the industry association as it continues to navigate the complexities of the fertiliser market.
Published on November 3, 2025.
