Usha Padhee, joint secretary in the civil aviation ministry, has been given additional charge of the post of chairman and managing director (CMD) of the disinvestment-bound Pawan Hans Limited, the company said on Sunday.

Padhee took charge as interim CMD of the helicopter services providing company on Saturday.

The post was lying vacant since the superannuation of then incumbent B P Sharma in January.

"Usha Padhee, joint secretary@Moca has taken over as the chairman and managing director of Pawan Hans Limited. She is the first woman CMD of the company," Pawan Hans said in a tweet on Sunday.

Earlier, the civil aviation ministry in an order on April 3 said Padhee was assigned the additional charge with immediate effect "for a period of three months or till the appointment/assignment of regular CMD, whichever is earlier".

The government last year initiated the disinvestment process in the company, in which it holds 51 per cent stake and the ONGC 49 per cent, and was looking to complete the process by March this year.

However, the sale process is yet to be completed.

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