SINGAPORE - Singapore-listed commodity giant Olam International announced on Monday (Feb 1) that Mr A Shekhar, its executive director for finance & business development, has been promoted to the newly created position of executive director & group chief operating officer (ED & Group COO) with effect from Feb 1.

Mr Shekhar will assist co-founder and Group CEO Sunny Verghese in overseeing all aspects of Olam's business.

In his 24 years in the company, Mr Shekhar has worked in various regional, business unit and functional roles and developed deep insights into Olam's overall business.

He holds a Bachelor's Degree in aeronautical engineering and a Master's Degree in business administration. He has also completed Harvard Business School's Advance Management Programme.

Olam has also appointed Neelamani Muthukumar as its group chief financial officer (Group CFO) with immediate effect.

Mr Muthu will be responsible for regional and product finance, corporate planning and budgeting, financial and management reporting, banking and treasury, investor relations and the corporate secretarial functions of the Group.

He has been with Olam for more than 18 years and is currently the president and global head of corporate finance.

Mr Muthu holds a Bachelor's degree in science and is a qualified associate member of the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India. He completed the Advanced Management Program from Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania.