IVPA Strengthens Leadership for a Changing Vegetable Oils Landscape

Sudhakar Desai re-elected President; Sumeet Mittal, Somnath Chatterjee, Dhritiman Biswas and V.K. Jain appointed Vice Presidents

Dr. Bhavna Shah to lead the Association as CEO

New Delhi, 18 September, 2026: The Indian Vegetable Oil Producers’ Association (IVPA) has announced its leadership team for 2026–27, bringing together senior leaders from global commodities, food processing, edible oils and agri-business at a time when the sector is being reshaped by changing trade flows, geopolitics, energy policies, sustainability requirements and evolving consumer expectations.

At its 49th Annual General Meeting, Mr.  Sudhakar Desai, CEO, Emami Agrotech Limited  was re-elected as President of IVPA. Mr. Sumeet Mittal, CEO, Louis Dreyfus Company; Mr. Somnath Chatterjee, Executive Vice President (Head of Procurement & Logistics), ITC Foods; Mr. Dhritiman Biswas, Senior Director, Government Relations – South Asia, Cargill India; and Mr. V.K. Jain, Vice President (EXIM), Patanjali Foods have been appointed as Vice Presidents.

The leadership reflects the increasingly interconnected nature of India’s vegetable oils sector, where domestic priorities must be viewed alongside developments in global commodity markets, food security, trade and supply chains.

Mr. Sudhakar Desai, President, IVPA, said:

“India’s vegetable oils industry is deeply connected to developments across global commodity and food markets. The challenges before us require a balanced perspective on trade, supply security, competitiveness, sustainability and the needs of the Indian consumer. IVPA will continue to bring the industry together, contribute credible perspectives to policy discussions and ensure that India’s voice is effectively represented in the global vegetable oils dialogue.”

He added:

“Our leadership team brings together experience from different segments of the value chain. This breadth will help IVPA address immediate industry priorities while keeping a clear focus on the sector’s long-term interests.”

Dr. Bhavna Shah will lead the Association as Chief Executive Officer, with responsibility for driving IVPA’s strategic direction, institutional growth and overall agenda.

Her role will span the Association’s strategy, industry priorities, member engagement, advocacy, knowledge and research initiatives, partnerships, global outreach and new initiatives, with a focus on expanding IVPA’s reach and strengthening its position as a leading voice for India’s vegetable oils industry.

Dr. Bhavna Shah, CEO, IVPA, said:

“Our focus is to build on IVPA’s strong industry standing with sharper insights, deeper global engagement and a forward-looking agenda. We will strengthen knowledge-led advocacy, anticipate emerging shifts and create meaningful collaborations that help the industry navigate change and shape the conversations that matter.”

With its leadership team for 2026–27, IVPA will focus on credible advocacy, stronger industry intelligence and deeper domestic and international engagement, while representing the interests of India’s vegetable oils sector in an increasingly complex global environment.

Leadership Team – IVPA 2026–27

• Mr. Sudhakar Desai — President,  IVPA; CEO, Emami Agrotech Limited
• Mr. Sumeet Mittal — Vice President, IVPA; CEO, Louis Dreyfus Company
• Mr. Somnath Chatterjee — Vice President, IVPA; Executive Vice President (Head of Procurement & Logistics), ITC Foods
• Mr. Dhritiman Biswas — Vice President, IVPA; Senior Director, Government Relations – South Asia, Cargill India
• Mr. V.K. Jain — Vice President, IVPA; Vice President (EXIM), Patanjali Foods
• Dr. Bhavna Shah — Chief Executive Officer, IVPA