London-listed Tirupati Graphite has announced significant leadership changes, appointing Anthony James Nieuwenhuys as executive director and co-CEO alongside Shishir Poddar. The move is part of a planned executive power transition to Nieuwenhuys
The board has initiated the transfer of all critical information, system access, and administrative controls to senior executive management and the board, enhancing transparency and corporate governance.
In a related development, Tirupati is finalizing discussions to appoint an interim CFO based in London and expects to make an announcement soon.
Key Appointments
Tirupati has bolstered its senior executive team with the following appointments:
- Dr. Uday Singh as Project Director for Madagascar and Mozambique.
- Harshit Poddar as Head of Sales and Marketing.
- Alastair Bath as Head of Special Projects and Corporate Communications.
Additionally, a mining industry accounting and finance expert in India has been engaged to support the ongoing audit and manage parts of the company’s financial system.
To further strengthen decision-making, Tirupati has established an advisory committee comprising industry and financial experts, including Takis Efstathiou and Hemant Poddar, to provide ongoing strategic guidance.
In December, Tirupati restructured its board after a shareholder-requisitioned extraordinary general meeting. New appointments included:
- Michael Lynch-Bell as Nonexecutive Chairperson.
- Anthony Nieuwenhuys, Murat Erden, and Christian St. John-Dennis as Nonexecutive Directors.
The meeting was prompted by concerns from shareholders holding 5.8% of the company’s ordinary shares, who sought to remove Shishir Poddar as chairperson and replace other directors.
Acknowledging prior governance challenges, Tirupati committed to revamping its board structure and appointing a CFO. Once the restructuring is complete, the company plans to raise funds to advance its graphite projects in Madagascar, signaling a renewed focus on growth and operational efficiency.
