Mr. K. M. Sheth

Born on 26th January, 1932, Mr. K. M. Sheth, after completing his higher studies in Sydenham College of Commerce & Economics, Bombay, joined The Great Eastern Shipping Co. in 1952 & became its Deputy Chairman and Managing Director in 1975.  He rose to become the Chairman and Managing Director of the Company in 1992.  After guiding the company in its strategic and decision making policies as the Executive Chairman for more than 20 years he ceased to be its whole time Director from September 2014.  Today he continues to be the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company.  He was closely associated with Great Eastern Institute of Maritime Studies as chairman until November 2021.

Mr. Sheth has served as President of the Indian National Shipowners’ Association (INSA), Director & Chairman of Indian Register of Shipping, the employers' group Chairman in the International Labour Organization (ILO) plenary session in Geneva in October 1987, Trustee of Bombay Port Trust etc. He continues to be Chairman of the South Asia Advisory Committee of Lloyds Register of Shipping, Chairman of the South Asia Committee of Det Norske Veritas and also Chairman of the Indian Committee of Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, Japan. He is also a member of ABS (American Bureau of Shipping.) and Korean Register of Shipping.  He is also on the Members Representative Committee of The Britannia Steam Ship Insurance Association Ltd., London.

Under Mr. Sheth’s leadership GE Shipping received the ‘Certificate of Excellence’ from the National Maritime Day Celebrations Committee, being the fastest expanding shipping company during the year 2003.    In 2005 National Maritime Day Celebrations Committee bestowed on him  “Varuna Award”, the highest recognition in the shipping Industry for his distinguished and outstanding contribution to the development and growth of Indian shipping industry.

It was largely through his efforts that Govt. Of India agreed to set up the “Yamuna Exchange” which was later renamed most of you know as “Transchart” which besides helping Indian Shipping companies in securing cargo also helped in saving huge outflow of precious foreign exchange which was so scarce in the country in 20th century  & early part of 21st century.

Under his visionary leadership Great Eastern was the first Indian company to own & operate crude oil tankers, product carriers, gas carriers & OBOs.  Great Eastern was the first shipping company in the world to adopt a new German ship design called “Pioneer” and became pioneer of the pioneer design ships. He also encouraged the Indian Ship Building Industry by placing new building orders for Pioneer class design at the Hindustan Shipyard, Vishakhapatnam.  

Mr. Sheth has been a doyen of the Indian Shipping Industry for over 6 decades and recipient of many Life Time Achievement awards conferred by various bodies/organisations.