E A Subrahmanian, the CEO of HLL Biotech, has been appointed the managing director of Bengal Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Limited (BCPL) by ministry of chemicals & fertilisers.

BCPL is the first drug manufacturing company in the public sector in the country.

Subrahmanian, a chemical engineering graduate from Kerala, is in charge of the project implementation of the Rs. 600 crore integrated vaccine complex being set up near Chennai.  He is also heading the revival projects of the three government vaccine manufacturing units, BCG VL Chennai, CRI Kasauli and PII Coonoor.

The immediate task before Subrahmanian as MD of the BCPL is to commission the cGMP production blocks for beta-lactam and cephalosporin sanctioned under the revival package of the company by government of India.

Subrahmanian will assume charge on February 6 this year.

BCPL Kolkata was established in 1901 by the eminent scientist P C Roy.