Knowledge, steely resolve, analytical skill and strategic thinking are the attributes which can make a man touch the heights of glory. And add to these traits, a selfless dedication and long unflinching hours of toil. Isn't it a perfect picture of a prime mover of business deeds? Sure, for when Sushil Kumar Roongta was appointed the Chairman of SAIL it was not much different.

In fact, very few people happen to be lucky enough to acquire the top job of a PSU after joining the ranks as a sales executive. Roongta belongs to the lucky few who are now heading the SAIL, one of India's largest public sector companies.

An engineering graduate from BITS-Pilani, with post-graduation in International Trade from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi, Roongta started his career in SAIL in 1972 as a sales executive in its marketing set-up and held different positions in the company during more than three decade-long career.

In 2004, Roongta was made a member of the SAIL board which triggered speculations about the possibility of his attaining the top job. Prior to his elevation as a board member, he spearheaded a string of key marketing initiatives for the company.

The final selection process witnessed a high drama of a political kind. Though the Public Sector Enterprise Recruitment Board recommended Roongta's name only while the Steel Ministry insisted on a second name being added to the list. Roongta's prospects suffered a setback due to a spat with Steel Minister, Ram Vilas Paswan. Fortunately for Roongta, they reached at a mutual agreement just in time before the final selection. The ministry cited his clean track record as the ostensible reason for his elevation.

The staggering responsibility that comes naturally with the chairmanship of a big PSU has hardly been an abrupt burden for him, as he held the additional charge of chairman since the retirement of his predecessor.

As Director (Personal), Roongta was at the helm of affairs in two of the most important areas such as raw materials and corporate planning. His diverse experiences in key posts include formulation of HR policies and formation of strategic alliances and joint ventures. He is also accredited with a comprehensive planning regarding future raw material requirement of SAIL. As a most significant qualification, Roongta had first hand experience of managing a steel plant when he shouldered the additional charge of Managing Director of Durgapur Steel Plant.

Although he has his share of detractors, none can possibly deny the amount of effort Roongta has put in for the betterment of SAIL. And when the government wanted SAIL to complete all its major expansion programmes by the year 2009, it was natural that Roongta was the man, chosen to be on the driver's seat of the new mission.