Samantaray term as FSSAI CEO ends; chairman likely to retain CEO reins

D K Samantaray’s stint with the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has come to an end and now the apex food regulator is looking for a new CEO. Samantaray was relieved on Tuesday.According to sources with FSSAI, as Samantaray’s tenure has come to an end, he will be returning to his home cadre - Madhya Pradesh.  Samantaray has had a year of association with the FSSAI that begun last year in August. The reason for the short stint is said to be Samantaray reaching the age of superannuation. The ministry may announce the name of the successor to Samantaray in some days from now, till then, however, the chairman, FSSAI, is likely to retain the CEO’s reins with himself. Samantaray was the second CEO in last two years for FSSAI. He had taken over after a gap of seven months after his predecessor S N Mohanty left the job in January 2013. Chairman FSSAI was also functioning as the interim CEO during the period.Meanwhile, the process for getting a replacement has already been initiated by the health ministry. It is believed that it would take at least two months to get somebody who is appropriate to head the regulator and carry out the complicated job profile of CEO, FSSAI, who is the functional head of the employees at the body.A source with the health ministry has revealed that the board of selection has initiated the process to select the next CEO but it may take two months for the process.

Source:http://www.fnbnews.com