Siraj A. Chaudhry

Siraj A. Chaudhry is an Advisor to Stanton Chase India. He has been in the business world for 35 years, 20 of which he spent in leadership roles. His focus has been on building, turning around, acquiring, and divesting businesses in the agriculture and food sectors.

Siraj possesses exceptional people leadership skills, with a knack for recognizing and fostering talent. He also has a strong ability to manage both internal and external stakeholders, navigating the operating landscape in India and abroad with ease. As an industry expert, thought leader, innovator, and leading voice in the agriculture and food industry, he has worked extensively with industry, the social sector, and government on transformational and numerous nation-building projects.

Currently, Siraj serves as the Country Chair of SATS India. Until recently, he held the position of Non-Executive Director and Chair of National Commodity Management Ltd. (NCML). Prior to that, he was the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NCML, where he successfully led the organization through a transformation journey, diversifying and expanding the company’s footprint across the country as a trusted and preferred agriculture supply chain and solutions partner.

From 2008 to 2018, Siraj was the Chair of Cargill India, the Indian arm of Cargill Inc. Under his guidance, Cargill’s Food Business in India grew into a 5,000 Cr. entity in edible oils, flour, corn products, and food ingredients. This transformation from a traditional B2B business into a reputable FMCG company is a testament to his leadership. Siraj is also known for pioneering the practice of edible oil fortification, recognized by Fortune Magazine as a “Change the World” activity.

Siraj serves as an Independent Director on the Boards of Air India SATS, Tata Consumers Products Ltd., Tata Coffee Ltd., Dhanuka Agritech, Jubilant Ingrevia Ltd., Carrier Air Conditioning and Refrigeration India, and Bikaji Foods International. He was previously an Independent Director on the Board of IndusInd Bank.

He has also been a member of CDC Group’s (now British International Investment) Food and Agriculture Advisory Council and a member of the non-statutory Advisory Council of ABInBev, India.

Siraj has actively participated in various trade bodies and industry associations. He has served as the Chair of the National Committee on Food Processing at FICCI and the Co-Chair of the National Committee for Agriculture at FICCI.

In the past, he has served as the President of the Food Industry Skill Council under the NSDC and as Chair of the National Alliance for Edible Oil Fortification, a joint initiative by CII and GAIN to tackle malnutrition through food fortification. He has chaired the Agriculture and Food Committee at the American Chamber of Commerce and the Agriculture and Food Committee of USIBC in India.

Furthermore, he maintains an active involvement in social causes, notably as a founding member of both United Way, Delhi and India Foodbank. His contributions have garnered numerous awards and recognitions, such as the Pride of Uttar Pradesh by the Lucknow Management Association and the Pioneer for Edible Oil Fortification by FSSAI. As a result, Siraj has become a revered voice in both national and international media on issues related to agriculture and food.

Siraj holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) and a B. Com (Hons) from Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi.