Saugata Basu appointed interim CEO of Castrol India

MUMBAI: Castrol India has tapped one of its own to steady the ship and steer ahead. Saugata Basu has been appointed interim chief executive officer with effect from January 1, 2026, while continuing in his current role as wholetime director and head of B2C sales. With the move, Basu has been redesignated as wholetime director and interim CEO.

For Castrol, this is less a leap of faith and more a well practised hand on the steering wheel. Basu is a Castrol lifer in the truest sense, having spent over two decades across sales, marketing, strategy and leadership roles in India and overseas.

Since joining the board as wholetime director in April 2022, Basu has played a central role in driving Castrol India’s consumer business. Before that, he served as vice president B2C, building momentum across categories and channels in an increasingly competitive lubricants market.

His leadership journey stretches well beyond Indian shores. As managing director of PT Castrol Indonesia, Basu led the business for more than three years, followed by an earlier stint as country sales director at Castrol Philippines, where he carried full P&L responsibility and managed corporate governance for the bp group locally.

Basu’s career has also included global exposure in London as a global marketing project manager, where he worked on premium brand strategy and high profile international partnerships. Back home, he has led national sales teams, headed marketing for commercial vehicles, and helped Castrol secure leadership positions in both volume and value.

From management trainee in 1999 to the corner office in 2026, Basu’s ascent reads like a long, well planned drive rather than a sudden sprint. As Castrol India enters its next phase, the company has chosen continuity, experience and a leader who knows every bend in the road.