Formula for success: Rise early, work hard and strike oil. The famous epithet very well sums up the traditional belief that striking oil is the easiest way to get success and riches. But not really so for Sarthak Behuria, chairman, Indian Oil Corporation Limited who has earned riches for his company by the sweat of his eyebrows. A man, who has paved way for his success through perseverance, dedication and by burning his mid-night oil, Behuria knows there is no shortcut to success. It is his hard work and the likes of him that has made Indian Oil Corporation to find a place in Fortune's 'Global 500'.

The firm has a global ranking of 18 among the petroleum refining companies when in comes to revenue. The number one oil refiner in the country, the company's refineries have a capacity of more than 752,000 barrels per day, accounting for 42% of India's oil refining production. It has more than 4,000 miles of pipeline and more than 21,000 retail outlets in the country. The sales turnover has far exceeded the earlier figure of Rs 1,30,203 crore. Managing a company of such a magnitude calls for dollops of managerial skills and far sightedness of a sage.

But for Behuria, who is also National President of Indian Institution of Industrial Engineering, the abilities came to him during the long stint of his working with oil majors. The dynamism and versatility of Behuria is not confined to the Indian Oil. He is also part-time Chairman of subsidiary companies BRPL and Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd., besides heading Indian Oil tanking Ltd. He is also Chairman of Petroleum Federation of India and Standing Conference of Public Enterprises, SCOPE.

An alumnus of St. Stephen's College, Delhi and IIM, Ahmedabad, Behuria has had an outstanding career in the oil sector and has worked in key portfolios like sales, supply and distribution and downstream infrastructure. While working with BPCL he prepared policy guidelines about the restructuring of the organisation. He also worked with erstwhile Oil Coordination Committee and BPCL as Director (Marketing). Behuria, whose position is well secured, as a management tycoon, is also a known academician who has published several papers both in national and international periodicals. A keen golfer, who loves accepting challenges, the future of Indian Oil under Behuria's stewardship has many eventful years to see.