Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, October 2025 — John Cockerill India Limited has appointed Ujwal Kawale as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), marking a pivotal milestone in the company’s growth trajectory. In this leadership role, he will oversee operations, drive strategic initiatives, and strengthen John Cockerill India’s presence in both domestic and international markets.
With more than 18 years of experience in managing large-scale industrial projects, particularly in the steel sector, Ujwal brings a unique combination of technical expertise, global project management, and operational excellence. He is recognized for his ability to bridge European work culture with Indian execution pragmatism, enabling high-performing, agile, and sustainable business outcomes.
Before assuming his current position, Ujwal served as Global Project Director – Metals Business at John Cockerill Industry, Belgium, where he successfully led multi-entity projects across Europe, the US, and India. His leadership was instrumental in optimizing operational efficiency, improving EBITDA, and strengthening governance through lean execution and global synergies.
Earlier, Ujwal contributed significantly as Manager – Projects at TCPL Packaging Limited and Manager – Industrial Strategy at John Cockerill India Limited (formerly CMI-FPE Ltd.), where he worked on capital projects, capacity expansions, and industrial strategy. His early career included roles in production planning and operations management, where he developed strong foundations in project execution, plant expansions, and efficiency optimization.
Armed with an M.Tech in Manufacturing Management from Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, a Post-Graduate Program in Management Studies from Welingkar Institute of Management, Mumbai, and a B.E. in Production Engineering from D. Y. Patil College of Engineering and Technology, Kolhapur (Shivaji University), Ujwal combines academic rigor with hands-on industry expertise. His appointment reflects John Cockerill India’s commitment to operational excellence and long-term growth.
About John Cockerill India Limited
John Cockerill India Limited designs, integrates, modernizes, and maintains equipment in the domains of energy, defence, steelmaking, environment, and general industry. The company supports clients across the full lifecycle of equipment, enhancing economic, technical, and environmental performance.
With a global workforce of over 7,000 professionals across Europe, Africa, North America, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, New Caledonia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Vietnam, John Cockerill combines engineering and maintenance expertise with a strong capacity for innovation. Guided by its mission to contribute to societal challenges, the company is dedicated to delivering sustainable industrial progress that benefits customers, employees, shareholders, communities, and the planet.
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