Dr. Kamal K. Sharma, has been appointed as the Managing Director of Lupin Ltd for five years with effect from September 29, 2003. Dr. Sharma's appointment was confirmed at the meeting of Lupin's board of directors yesterday evening.

Dr Sharma is a chemical engineer from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, with a post-graduate diploma in industrial management from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai, and a Ph.D. in economics from IIT, Mumbai. He has also completed an advanced management programme from Harvard Business School, Boston.

Dr. Sharma had held a range of senior management positions managing projects, operations, corporate development and general management in the pharmaceutical and chemicals industries.

"I believe Dr. Sharma's varied experience, command over processes and systems and understanding of international markets will be crucial to fulfilling Lupin's strategic vision to emerge as a global pharmaceutical leader," Dr. Desh Bandhu Gupta, chairman of Lupin said.

Dr. Sharma is currently the president and chief executive of Life Sciences and Speciality Group and member of the Management Board at RPG Enterprises Ltd, Mumbai. Dr. Sharma is credited with RPG's forays in biotechnology and for creating strategic alliances for technology and exports. Besides this, he is also involved with the group's initiatives in organizational restructuring and change management.

Prior to joining RPG Enterprises, Dr. Sharma was managing director of Lupin Chemicals Ltd, which was later merged with Lupin Laboratories Limited.