Seasoned pharmaceutical industry leader to accelerate next stage of growth
A private equity consortium led by PAG, a leading Asia-focussed investment firm, announced the appointment of Santosh Kumar Mahil as the MD and CEO, Sekhmet Pharmaventures, an investment platform established to nurture and grow India’s next generation of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) companies.
Mahil brings with him nearly three decades of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, having held leadership roles at organisations including Lupin, USV, Unichem, and Shilpa Medicare. Most recently, he served as the CEO of Shilpa Pharma Life Sciences, an R&D and manufacturing subsidiary of Shilpa Medicare. His expertise spans the entire pharmaceutical value chain, including APIs, formulations, intermediates, and CDMO services. In each of his roles, he has focused on the development and growth of the business, including strategic expansion, operational excellence, consumer satisfaction and M&A.
Sekhmet Pharmaventures is the India arm of Gamot API, a Singapore-based platform launched by PAG along with Indian private equity firms CX Partners and Samara Capital to buy stakes in fast-growing pharma companies. Sekhmet’s platform includes Chennai-based Anjan Drug and the Optimus Drugs Group of Companies, both leading API manufacturers with an emphasis on global standards of quality and regulatory compliance.
Nikhil Srivastava, Partner, Co-Head of Private Equity for PAG, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Mahil to the Sekhmet Pharmaventures leadership team. With a proven track record of transforming good companies into industry leaders, he brings the vision and expertise to accelerate our growth. Mahil’s exceptional ability to innovate, drive expansion, and capitalise on new market opportunities perfectly aligns with Sekhmet’s commitment to excellence. We are confident that Sekhmet will achieve even greater success under his leadership.”
Dr D Srinivas Reddy, Founder, Optimus, said, “This appointment marks a step forward for Sekhmet Pharmaventures and its mission to deliver high-quality, affordable health products to customers in India and around the world. Our vertically integrated capabilities give us an edge in meeting customer requirements. As we prepare for our next stage of growth, Mahil’s experience in building customer relationships and driving innovation will be a perfect fit.”
Dr C Kalaichelvan, Founder, Anjan Drugs, added, “The business has more than doubled after the consortium invested in Anjan. Mahil is a recognised leader in our industry with strong experience in building businesses. We are very pleased to welcome him to the team as we continue to strengthen the platform further.”
Mahil mentioned, “I am pleased to join the Sekhmet platform and look forward to working with PAG and its consortium partners as well as the entire Sekhmet team. I am looking forward to using my experience to help accelerate Sekhmet’s growth into a world-class provider of health solutions.”
