New Delhi: The Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd (GCMMF), which markets its products under the brand name ‘Amul’, on Monday, January 9, sacked its long-serving managing director R.S. Sodhi without citing any reason, news agency PTI reported.
Chief operating officer of the federation, Jayenbhai Mehta, has been made interim managing director.
Sodhi, who worked with the federation for over four decades, put in his papers after he had been asked by the board to step down.
For many in the federation, it was a sudden development and they could not come up with any reason for such a decision. However, Sodhi, for his part, said he had been on an extension and had requested the board to relieve him of his duties as the managing director.
The decision was taken at the federation’s board meeting held on AmulFed dairy premises in Gandhinagar on Monday, January 9. “As per resolution no.2 of the board meeting, it was proposed to end your service as the federation’s MD with immediate effect. Thus, you are hereby directed to relinquish your charge as MD with immediate effect and hand it over to federation COO, Jayenbhai Mehta,” a formal letter sent to Sodhi said, according to PTI.
The letter was signed by the federation’s chairman Shamalbhai Patel and vice-chairman Valamjibhai Humbal.
Sodhi denied reports which suggested that he has been “sacked” and that his office has been “sealed”. Instead, he said he is “very happy” with the federation’s decision.
“My term as MD ended two years back and I was on an extension. I had requested the board to relieve me from this responsibility. The board had told me to wait for some time saying they will relieve me once they find a suitable replacement” Sodhi told reporters, according to PTI.
“When I again requested the GCMMF board to relieve me, they finally accepted my request and relieved me today. It was my own decision to step down and I am very happy today,” he added.
Sodhi had been associated with the federation for over four decades, and served as MD for 12 years. When he took over as MD, Amul’s turnover in the 2010-11 fiscal was Rs 9,774 crore. It touched Rs 61,000 crore in the 2021-22 financial year under him.
He was first appointed as MD in 2010 for five years. In 2015, he was re-appointed to the same post till 2020. Since then, he had been on an extension.
Sodhi did his MBA from the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) and started his career as a manager with the federation.