Yash pakka

MEET THE LEADERS WHO DRIVE
THE COMPANY

Ved Krishna

GROUP LEAD

Our Group Lead is our eternal optimist. Nothing seems to bring him down. We have faced numerous hurdles during his stewardship, and he just keeps going. He has a keen strategic mind and is always in search of innovative ways for building business. He has been with the organization for over 14 years and has grown the company over 4 times. We continue to have great plans for the future that are drawn with his guidance, and he continuously enthuses the team to achieve more and more.

Jagdeep Hira

INDIA BUSINESS HEAD

Jagdeep has lived and breathed paper most of his working life. He has run all kinds of machines and developed numerous grades of papers. He has worked in different kinds of companies and environments and has also had great international exposure. He loves to build organisations taking the team along with him. He is able to understand, grasp and resolve issues due to his deep involvement with the process.

Neetika Suryawanshi

FINANCE HEAD

Neetika loves it when things move in a systematic way, and if they’re not she’ll make it her goal to set things right! A chartered accountant with a post-qualification experience of nearly 2 decades, Neetika has had fulfilling stints in various banks early on in her career. As the Finance Lead of Pakka, she is focused on cost efficiency to improve the bottom line, while at the same time implementing digitization and automation of systems. Neetika has an eye for detail and does not shy away from getting into heaps of filework to spot an error! In her free time she loves sketching and enjoys travelling with her family.

Rolando Yon

Group CFO, Guatemala

Rolando Yon’s journey is all about driving financial excellence and sustainable growth. He’s not just crunching numbers—he’s steering innovation and efficiency in Guatemala. With a focus on renewable energy and sustainability, Rolando ensures every decision builds a greener and more resilient future. A leader who balances vision with strategy, he’s redefining what it means to create lasting impact through finance. 

Eduardo Estrada

CEO, Pakka Inc.

Eduardo is the kind of guy who turns big ideas into reality. From growing up in Guatemala to leading sugar mills and global companies, he’s spent 30 years shaking up the world of food and agriculture. He has helped revolutionize Latin America’s crop science scene and has worked across continents. With a track record that spans from California to Colombia, Eduardo’s passion for progress never slows down. He has even served as the Board President for Crop Life Latin America!

Satish ChamyVelumani

Compostables Business Lead, USA

Visionary leadership with unflinching optimism is what has defined his career. He started out as a mechanical engineer from a lower middle class family in Coimbatore. His larger-than-life dreams fuelled a drive that pushed him to achieve greater heights with engineering, both academically and career-wise. To him engineering is creating! Satish comes with a rich background in the product, packaging and food space. He is now leading Pakka’s Compostables division towards global leadership in the compostable food serviceware space.

Neylan McBaine

Marketing Lead

Neylan McBaine is a storyteller with a mission. From shaping narratives as a marketer to amplifying voices as a social entrepreneur, she turns ideas into movements. Passionate about culture and equality, Neylan’s work sparks conversations that matter. Whether leading creative teams or writing books, she inspires action with authenticity and purpose.

Sai Sambat

People & Culture Lead

Sai Sambat is all about building bridges—between people, cultures, and ideas. With a knack for strategy and a heart for social impact, he’s driven initiatives that empower communities and foster sustainable growth. Whether he’s managing projects or mentoring the next generation, Sai’s leadership is a blend of purpose and possibility.

Sarita Upadhyay

FOUNDATION HEAD

Preparing students from the less privileged society for a successful future is most important to Sarita. She hails from Lucknow and has spent over a decade in the social sector, most of the years spent in bridging the gap between education and employment. Under her leadership and guidance, Pakka Foundation has already seen several new initiatives and reforms. Apart from education, she is also spearheading some ecological and sanitation drives in villages in and around Ayodhya. Without a doubt, Sarita is one of the key reformers in our work towards a cleaner planet!

Gautam Ghosh

HR & Liaison Head

Gautam is our smiling Buddha! He does not have the word ‘No’ in his vocabulary. He puts his heart and soul into his work and remains full of energy and smiles always ready for another party. The amount of love he gets from the team members is a testament to his personality and to his role as the team excellence head. He also looks after liaison and continuously strives to build better relationships to ensure our work carries on without glitches.

YP-285

Ved Krishna

FOUNDER PAKKA INC

Our Strategy Head is our eternal optimist. Nothing seems to bring him down. We have faced numerous hurdles during his stewardship and he just keeps going. He has a keen strategic mind and is always in search of innovative ways for building business. He has been with the organization for over 14 years and has grown the company over 4 times.
We continue to have great plans for the future that are drawn with his guidance and he continuously enthuses the team to achieve more and more.

YP-196

Jagdeep Hira

Manufacturing Business Head

Jagdeep has lived and breathed paper most of his working life. He has run all kinds of machines and developed numerous grades of papers. He has worked in different kinds of companies and environments and has also had great international exposure. He loves to build organisations taking the team along with him. He is able to understand, grasp and resolve issues due to his deep involvement with the process.

YP-185

Jignesh Shah

Finance Head

With over 25 years of experience in financial management, Jignesh has a very well- diversified and rich experience both on the corporate and advisory side. The experience spans across Financial Advisory for growing and start up companies, Financial Assets Valuations and FundRaising, CFO of Manufacturing and Infrastructure companies He has rich industry experience of 15+ years
in advising Managerial Levels.

board of directors

Alok Ranjan

Independent Director

Mr. Alok Ranjan’s story is one of incredible service. Imagine leading a state, building a metro from scratch, and writing books on the side? That’s Alok! With a passion for progress, he’s tackled everything from industrial policy to women’s safety. A true leader, he’s even shared his knowledge by teaching and writing. He’s a man who gets things done, all while leaving a lasting impact.

Ved Krishna

Non-Executive Vice Chairman (Promoter)

Our Vice-Chairman is our eternal optimist. Nothing seems to bring him down. We have faced numerous hurdles during his stewardship and he just keeps going. He has a keen strategic mind and is always in search of innovative ways for building business. He has been with the organization for over 14 years and has grown the company over 4 times. We continue to have great plans for the future that are drawn with his guidance and he continuously enthuses the team to achieve more and more.

Jagdeep Hira

Managing Director

Jagdeep has lived and breathed paper most of his working life. He has run all kinds of machines and developed numerous grades of papers. He has worked in different kinds of companies and environments and has also had great international exposure. He loves to build organisations taking the team along with him. He is able to understand, grasp and resolve issues due to his deep involvement with the process.

Himanshu Kapoor

Non-Executive Director

Himanshu is a wizard with numbers! With an impressive experience of 25 years as a CA under his belt, Himanshu deals with everything finance. Right from international taxation, mergers and acquisitions and funding to equity market investments, he’s your know-it-all when it is about money! It’s no surprise that he has traveled the world to participate in some key decisions for Pakka! That said, don’t get intimidated by his imposing credentials. Walk up to him and he is the most affable person for a conversation over coffee!

Gautam Ghosh

Executive Director

Gautam is our smiling Buddha! He does not have the word ‘No’ in his vocabulary. He puts his heart and soul into his work and remains full of energy and smiles always ready for another party. The amount of love he gets from the team members is a testament to his personality and to his role as the team development head. He also looks after liaison and continuously strives to build better relationships to ensure our work carries on without glitches.

Rahul K Dharmadhikary

Independent Director

Mr. Rahul Krantikumar Dharmadhikary is a researcher turned business development person and now a Global Industry Leader. He has done his Ph.D. in Fiber and Polymer Science from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC. He started his career in pulp and paper and then built himself in the non-woven and filtration space. He is our guide when it comes to channelization of innovative systems and application-based work.

Shubham Tibrewal

Independent Director

Shubham represents the new and young generation on the Board of Pakka. With a rich background in finance and an international perspective, Shubham’s contributions are poised to make a significant impact on Pakka’s global expansion strategies. His well-honed financial acumen, refined through years of education and hands-on experience, equips him to offer strategic insights and informed decision-making to Pakka’s board discussions. He is fluent in French, having lived in Paris for over 10 years. By championing products that prioritize health and environmental responsibility, Shubham demonstrates his dedication to making a positive impact on society.

Kimberly Ann McArthur

Director (Promoters’ Group)

Kim is the international perspective on the board. Kim is passionate about life. She earned a Masters in Communication and built her company Freerange Studios in the USA from a start up to a well known design firm that works on social causes. Kim knows how to communicate. She has a brain that can look at issues and guide as they need to be handled. From experience in running her own business for ten years, she gained business strategic experience combined with her great acumen for aesthetics and design. She also has a deep commitment to Pakka’ CSR efforts.

Manjula Jhunjhunwala

Director (Promoter)

Ms Jhunjhunwala is our founder director. As our founder Mr KK Jhunjhunwala always said ‘the business is here because of her. She sold her jewellery to provide the seed capital to her husband to establish the business’. Ms Jhunjhunwala is a revered educationist and philanthropist. She has built a great name in the field of early education through Jingle Bells Nursery Schools Society. Her passion is to build a better nation for the future generations and works tirelessly towards the same.

Basant Kumar Khaitan

Independent Director

Mr Khaitan is an entrepreneur. He is one of the key suppliers to the paper industry and has built a thriving corporation called Wires and Fabrics Limited. Mr Khaitan is one of the sharpest minds we know and brings value to each discussion. He has a keen sense for business and directs our focus towards customers and effective business practices. He has a knack for numbers and is able to find information within data inadvertently.

Pradeep Vasant Dhobale

Chairman (Independent Director)

Mr Pradeep Dhobale has been a very well known figure in the paper industry for a long, long time. He spent most of his career with ITC Industries starting as a trainee and rising to the board level. He headed the paper division of ITC and took the same to new heights. He is a continuous learner and post his retirement spends time mentoring various startups to groom them and enable budding entrepreneurs to get results. We are fortunate to have his insight and guidance on the board.

Anna Kay Warrington

Independent Director

Anna’s journey is not about titles (though she’s got plenty of those too). From helping airlines to fly in a better and sustainable way to leading high-performing teams in India, she’s a pro at driving positive change. She’s passionate about our planet, loves a good dive, and gets people talking about sustainability in creative ways. Her passion for sustainability is contagious. She inspires and empowers others to make a difference.

Mr. Pradeep Vasant Dhobale

Mr Pradeep Vasant Dhobale

Chairman (Independent Dir.)

Mr Pradeep Dhobale has been a very well known figure in the paper industry for a long, long time. He spent most of his career with ITC Industries starting as a trainee and rising to the board level. He headed the paper division of ITC and took the same to new heights. He is a continuous learner and post his retirement spends time mentoring various startups to groom them and enable budding entrepreneurs to get results. We are fortunate to have his insight and guidance on the board.

YP-285

Ved Krishna

Executive Vice Chairman (Promoter)

Our Vice Chairman is our eternal optimist. Nothing seems to bring him down. We have faced numerous hurdles during his stewardship and he just keeps going. He has a keen strategic mind and is always in search for innovative ways for building business. He has been with the organization for over 14 years and has grown the company over 4 times. We continue to have great plans for the future that are drawn with his guidance and he continuously enthuses the team to achieve more and more.

YP-196

Jagdeep Hira

Managing Director & CEO

Jagdeep has lived and breathed paper most of his working life. He has run all kinds of machines and developed numerous grades of papers. He has worked in different kind of companies and environments and has also had great international exposure. He loves to build organisations taking the team along with him. He is able to understand, grasp resolve issues due to his deep involvement with the process.

OUR MENTORS

Atul Kumar Gupta

Past Independent Director

Atul ji is one of the brightest minds we know. As an officer in the Indian Administrative Services, he spent many years of his life providing the state with good governance and rose to become the Chief Secretary of the largest state in the country. He left a legacy of being an impeccable officer and a gentleman. He now wishes to spend his time reading and writing books and we await the same. We are fortunate to have him mentor and guide our company.

KD Pudumjee

Past Chairman and Guide

Mr Pudumjee is one of the most inquisitive minds you will ever meet. He is our guiding light. Mr Pudumjee owned and built Pudumjee Pulp and Paper Mills in Pune, India. Pudumjee mills became the frontrunner for specialty paper in the country and brought in numerous path breaking technologies and developments. Mr Pudumjee was in the forefront of the growth. He is well known as a maverick and is extremely particular about details. We say on the board that nothing escapes KDP; he keeps us on track.

Prasad Kaipa

Advisor

Mr. Kaipa’s life purpose is to bring Indian Vedantic knowledge into management theory and practice. He is an internationally bestselling author and a thought leader in the areas of wisdom leadership, innovation and design, affordable innovation, Indian models of leadership/innovation and mindsets. Mr. Kaipa is working towards bringing more leadership and self management concepts to Pakka, something that has made us unique over the years!

William McDonough

Advisor

William McDonough is a renowned American architect and academic. He is one of the pioneers of green architecture or sustainable architecture and his techniques often borrow from solar and passive energy efficiency. Mr. McDonough’s cradle-to-cradle design, which he centers his work on, emphasizes on shifting thinking from ‘less bad’ to ‘more good’. He has been a tremendous influence on Pakka’s direction moving forward and brings global reach to the organization.

K Rajshekhar

ADVISOR

Rajshekhar spent his life building NTTF, the premier entity for vocational studies in India. He has been guiding us with the nitty gritties of running a skilling institute and building towards excellence. He is a firm believer in global standards and we are blessed with his presence that ensures the direction towards being world class.

Jayant Krishna

ADVISOR

Jayant is an unstoppable force. He believes in a life of contribution and involvement and spends his time passionately pursuing various interests. He spent most of his corporate life building TCS to eventually be deputed to National Skills Development Council eventually joining that full time. He has eventually moved on to more international pastures to lead the UK India Economic Council. His presence guides us as we look to set up a global centre of skilling excellence for the compostable packaging domain.

Dr. Vishwajeet Kumar

ADVISOR

Vishwajeet is a global leader in the development domain. His work on neonatal care and reduction in infant mortality is globally recognised. He decided a couple of decades back to leave the cushy life in the US to spend most of his time building impact in rural hinterlands of India. He has felt strongly about the need for quality education and that has guided our work in the domain.

Varun Jain

ADVISOR

Varun has spent a lengthy period starting from running paper machines and production systems globally. He then moved and spent time in the consulting arena and now heads India for the largest global paper machinery provider. He understands technology and developments therein both from the perspective of a technology provider and also as a user and guide. His presence keeps us aware about the developments on the side of technology.

Marcus Pfeifle

ADVISOR

Marcus has built an amazing specialty chemical company CTP in Germany. He is one of the most affable and gregarious people we know and he brings in various insights from the global development perspective. His business brain and innovative ideas help us with understanding of developments in the specialty paper space and enable us to be more aware of the industry.

Meeghan Paul

ADVISOR

Meeghan has been a globetrotter and spent most of her time in the development space in India and South East Asia. Her focus towards impact assessment provides us with insights on measuring our work. Her connection and ground level understanding of the situation in India enables her to provide us with deep and practical insights.

KD Pudumjee (1)

KD Pudumjee

Past Chairman and Guide

Mr Pudumjee is one of the most inquisitive minds you will ever meet. He is our guiding light. Mr Pudumjee owned and built Pudumjee Pulp and Paper Mills in Pune, India. Pudumjee mills became the frontrunner for specialty paper in the country and brought in numerous path breaking technologies and developments. Mr Pudumjee was in the forefront of the growth. He is well known as a maverick and is extremely particular about details. We say on the board that nothing escapes KDP; he keeps us on track.

1542722417539

DS Gandikota

Advisor

He completed his B.Tech (Chemical Engineering), Andhra University, 1980. He has over 35 years experience in Process Industries like Oil and Gas, Refining, Petrochemical, Chemical, Power, Nuclear, Steel, Pulp and Paper, Sugar, Glass, Non-ferrous metallurgy etc. He is an electronic hobbyist and is a versatile Coach, Mentor and Counselor.

Play Video

WATCH VED TALK ABOUT THE PAKKA team