New Delhi: Rishi Pathania, a seasoned CSR, Sustainability, and ESG professional with nearly 28 years of experience, has joined Jindal Steel Ltd as Vice President and Head – Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). His appointment marks a strategic move by the company to strengthen its purpose-led growth and community impact agenda.
Known for designing and implementing integrated, business-linked CSR strategies, Pathania brings deep expertise in building multi-stakeholder partnerships and driving global CSR initiatives aligned with corporate values and ESG priorities.
Two Decades of Leadership Across Corporate and Development Sectors
Prior to joining Jindal Steel, Rishi Pathania served as Global Head (Vice President) – CSR at UPL Group for over 13 years. In this role, he led the end-to-end design and execution of CSR strategies across global operations, with a strong focus on India, Latin America, and Africa.
At UPL, he spearheaded business-linked social initiatives, large-scale community development programmes, ESG social frameworks, and national-level advocacy. He also held multiple trustee and director roles across UPL-backed foundations and universities, while championing employee volunteering, impact assessment, and CSR communication.
Earlier, Pathania spent nearly nine years at Tata Chemicals Ltd as Head – CSR (Chemical Business), where he led location-specific CSR programmes in Mithapur, Gujarat. His work focused on stakeholder engagement, UN Global Compact and GRI reporting, compliance, and aligning CSR with Tata values and business objectives.
His career began in the development sector as Programme Manager, later CEO, at the Society for Development of Appropriate Technology (SOTEC), where he worked extensively on rural livelihoods, women’s empowerment, health, sanitation, and sustainable agriculture.
Strong Academic Foundation Rooted in Sustainability and Rural Development
Pathania’s professional journey is backed by a robust academic foundation. He holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Environmental Law and Policy from WWF India and National Law University, Delhi, a PGDRD in Rural Development from Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), and a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Nagpur University.
An alumnus of XISS—an institute known for producing some of India’s leading CSR professionals—Pathania is expected to play a pivotal role in advancing Jindal Steel’s long-term sustainability vision, strengthening social capital, and delivering measurable, inclusive impact.
Advancing Jindal Steel Ltd’s Social Impact Vision
At Jindal Steel Ltd, Pathania is expected to further strengthen the company’s CSR portfolio, which spans education, healthcare, skill development, women empowerment, water stewardship, and community infrastructure across its operational regions. Jindal Steel has been actively investing in inclusive growth, local livelihoods, and sustainable community development—areas closely aligned with Pathania’s leadership philosophy.
His appointment signals Jindal Steel’s commitment to embedding impact-driven, ESG-aligned CSR at the heart of its growth journey, with Rishi Pathania poised to play a pivotal role in shaping its long-term social value creation.
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