Mansi Madan Tripathy
Vice President, Shell Lubricants, Asia Pacific & Country Chair, Shell Group of Companies in India
Since its inception in 2017, the F&L Asia Person of the Year Award has recognised outstanding individuals in the fuels and lubricants industry in Asia. This prestigious accolade acknowledges exceptional contributions to the industry, and it is with great pleasure that we announce Mansi Madan Tripathy as the recipient of the award for 2024.
A leader in innovation and sustainability
Mansi is Vice President of Shell Lubricants for Asia Pacific where she is responsible for leading all of Shell’s lubricants business activities in the Asia Pacific region including India, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, Pakistan, and Oceania. In addition to her role as Shell Lubricants Vice President for Asia Pacific, on October 1, 2023, Mansi was appointed Country Chair for the Shell Group of Companies in India. Mansi also sits on the Board of Hankook Shell South Korea, Aljomaih and Shell Lubricating Oil Company (JOSLOC) Saudi Arabia and Shell Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) Aviation.
A seasoned business leader with more than 20 years of marketing, sales and strategy experience, Mansi manages a portfolio of USD2.5 billion, nine blending plants and more than 1,500 employees in her role as Vice President for Shell Lubricants Asia Pacific. Shell’s footprint in India comprises over 13,000 employees, and a turnover of USD3 billion.
Mansi is a pioneer in the sustainability journey and has overseen a 35% carbon reduction in Scope I and Scope II emissions (versus a 2016 baseline) through energy efficiency initiatives and investments in solar energy in Shell Lubricants’ Asia Pacific production plants as of YTD September 2023. Her focus on sustainability extends to greater use of recycled materials in plastic packaging and driving the uptake of premium products with formulations allowing fuel/energy efficiency and longer oil drains.
Under Mansi’s guidance, Shell Lubricants has continued its market leadership in the region with volumes increasing by 18% in 2021 and 11% in 2022, including a 17% increase in premium lubricant growth year-over-year. Mansi continues to inspire and drive positive change at Shell and is currently undertaking a major change journey to ensure a competitive organisation enabled by simplicity and speed.
A champion of diversity
Mansi’s impact extends beyond her professional achievements. As a strong supporter of equal opportunities for women and gender balance, Mansi sponsors and serves as a mentor to the Shell Women’s Network, comprising more than 7,000 professionals.
Since joining Shell in 2012, Mansi’s visionary leadership, dedication to excellence and commitment to sustainability have earned her numerous accolades, including the 2022 Executive of the Year at the Singapore Business Review Management Excellence Awards and being named amongst the 2017 Economic Times’ Women Ahead List of India’s fastest rising women leaders. Mansi was also honoured with the Women Economic Forum (WEF) Woman of the Decade award for Innovation and Enterprise in 2018.
Mansi holds a bachelor’s degree in technology from the National Institute of Technology Kurukshetra and an MBA in Marketing from S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research.
Pai Kok Tan
Project Consultant, TotalEnergies Marketing
The F&L Asia Lifetime Achievement Award for 2024 honors individuals whose exceptional contributions have significantly advanced the fuels and lubricants industry. This year, the award proudly recognizes Pai Kok Tan for his unparalleled dedication and influential impact throughout his illustrious career.
Joining TotalEnergies in 1996, Pai Kok has distinguished himself as a pivotal figure in the lubricants sector for more than three decades. His career, rooted in a deep understanding of both business and supply chain dynamics, has seen him thrive in senior management roles, particularly in the Asia Pacific region where he has been based.
A graduate of Nottingham University, UK, with a BSc Engineering (Hons) degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1979, Pai Kok embarked on his professional journey at Texas Instruments (s) Pte Ltd. in Singapore. He swiftly demonstrated his expertise and versatility, transitioning to Esso (s) Pte Ltd as a Materials Analyst and later driving sales for a range of petroleum products in Singapore. His tenure in Taiwan overseeing automotive lubricant sales further underscored his growing influence in the industry.
Pai Kok’s move to Total Oil Petroleum SEA (now known as TotalEnergies) in Singapore in 1996 marked the beginning of a transformative era, where he led Lubricants Sales in Asia Pacific and later oversaw the integration and expansion of lube blending plants following the TotalFinaElf merger. His leadership in regional marketing and strategic roles, including his tenure as Managing Director in Malaysia, showcased his exceptional strategic vision and operational excellence.
Promoted to VP of Special Fluids with full P&L responsibilities for Asia Pacific, and subsequently VP of Lubricants for Asia Pacific and Middle East, Pai Kok spearheaded significant projects, including the construction of the company’s world largest lubricants blending plant in 2015 in Singapore, a testament to his forward-thinking and commitment to excellence. His role as VP of Operations (Lubes) further solidified his status as a key player in the industry.
Pai Kok has been instrumental in addressing operational challenges and identifying opportunities that have an impact on sustainability within TotalEnergies’ Global Lubricants Operations, and mentoring the next generation of leaders. These initiatives are a reflection of his dedication to sustainable practices and talent development. His current role as Project Consultant underscores his ongoing commitment to shaping the future of the industry in the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions.
Serving on the Council of the Asian Lubricants Industry Association (ALIA) and as its Chairman from 2020 to 2022, Pai Kok has also contributed significantly to the industry at large, advocating for collaboration, innovation, and sustainability.
The decision to award Pai Kok Tan the F&L Asia Lifetime Achievement Award for 2024 is a testament to his remarkable journey, profound impact, and unwavering commitment to the lubricants industry. His legacy is not just in the milestones achieved but also in the inspiration he provides to professionals across the industry, embodying the values of leadership, innovation, and stewardship that this award celebrates.
The F&L Asia Future Leaders Award for 2024 is a prestigious recognition that highlights individuals within the industry who not only possess remarkable leadership potential but also exhibit exceptional promise and have already made significant strides in their careers. Dr. Kristina Jovic, the deserving recipient of this year’s award, stands out as a paragon of innovation, leadership, and commitment to sustainability in the fuels and lubricants industry.
Serving as the RDI Sustainability Manager at Evonik (SEA) PTE. LTD., Kristina’s journey is a testament to her profound influence and forward-thinking approach in the realm of sustainable product development. Initially embarking on her career at Evonik in Darmstadt, Germany, as a Product Development Manager for lubricant additives, she quickly distinguished herself by leading a lab group dedicated to the development of new products in the viscosity index improvers segment. Her focus on sustainability—exploring raw material options and delving deep into the carbon footprints of products—underscores her dedication to shaping a more sustainable future for the industry.
Kristina’s academic prowess is equally impressive, with a PhD from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane, Australia, where she conducted groundbreaking research on the development of new methods for producing high performance polymer foams, sponsored by Evonik Industries AG. This work, coupled with her role as a student representative for the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI), highlighted her early commitment to both scientific excellence and community engagement within the chemical sector.
In August 2023, Kristina assumed her current role as RDI Sustainability Manager for the Asia Pacific region, based in Singapore. Here, she leads an international team on a pivotal global sustainability initiative aimed at achieving carbon neutrality within the industry by 2050. Her ability to steer national and international R&D projects, provide strategic insights for sustainable business development, and foster collaboration across departments exemplifies her leadership skills and her vision for a sustainable industry. Her transition from product development to sustainability management reflects a strategic and insightful approach to addressing the industry’s pressing challenges. In addition, she shares her experiences and advises young talents on their career journey as a mentor at the Singapore Institute of Technology.
The decision to honor Dr. Kristina Jovic with the F&L Asia Future Leaders Award for 2024 is a recognition of her unwavering commitment to sustainability, her innovative spirit, and her ability to inspire and lead change within the industry. Her achievements not only demonstrate her capacity for leadership but also her potential to drive the industry towards a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future.
OLOA® 59361
Chevron Oronite
The F&L Asia Product Development of the Year Award for 2024 celebrates innovation and excellence in product development within the commercial sector, particularly emphasizing technological advancements that significantly improve processes, efficiency, and sustainability. Chevron Oronite’s OLOA® 59361 has been named the distinguished winner of this award, showcasing exceptional innovation in engine lubrication technology that sets new standards in the industry.
OLOA® 59361 is Oronite’s next generation heavy-duty lubricant additive designed to serve a broad spectrum of engines, including heavy-duty on-highway, off-highway, and light-duty engines operating on low/ultra-low sulfur diesel (LSD/ULSD) fuels. This product stands out for its ability to ensure smooth engine operation and enhance engine durability at an extremely optimized additive package treat rate, covering three viscosity grades—SAE 10W-30, 10W-40, and 15W-40—at the same treat rate. This versatility is coupled with fuel economy benefits and the ability for extended oil drain intervals, underpinning the product’s contribution to operational efficiency and lower carbon solutions.
A notable achievement of OLOA® 59361 is its global applicability, having met stringent heavy-duty lubricant specifications across various regions including Europe (ACEA E9/E11 – 2022), North America (API CK-4 and FA-4), Japan (JASO DH-2), China (D1), and OEM specifications such as the Cummins CES 20100 which specifically addresses the unique operating conditions in India and China. This wide range of approvals underscores its adaptability and relevance to diverse market needs, making it a truly global product.
The development of OLOA® 59361, especially during the challenging conditions posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, is a testament to Chevron Oronite’s commitment to innovation. Despite these obstacles, the product underwent rigorous R&D and extensive field testing, including over 300,000 miles of testing in the United States and China, to ensure its performance and reliability.
OLOA® 59361’s composition allows for broad base oil coverage, including compatibility with re-refined base oil (RRBO) and biodiesel, including higher biodiesel blending rates in Asian countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
The product’s global availability from multiple supply locations ensure supply reliability and offers customers the opportunity to simplify their supply chain.
The recognition of OLOA® 59361 as the F&L Asia Product Development of the Year for 2024 reflects its significant impact on the industry, offering a solution that not only meets, but also exceeds, current industry specifications. Its development represents a stride forward in the pursuit of efficiency, lower carbon solutions, and global adaptability in the fuels and lubricants sector.
Grease generally consists of thickener (5%~30%), base oil and additives. With strong demand for lithium batteries for electric vehicles, the raw material cost for producing lithium and lithium complex thickeners has increased significantly. This brings about the rising demand for polyurea grease.
Polyurea grease has better oxidation stability because of being metal free, which is important for high performance, fill-for-life applications of bearings, constant velocity joints in steel plants and electric motors. Because of the inherent structure of polyurea thickeners, polyurea grease has high thermal stability, shear stability and anti-water-flushing properties.
Dow has developed a continuous production technology for making polyurea thickeners of high quality and consistency, resulting in polyurea greases with improved properties such as better shear and rolling stability. In addition, compared to batch production, this technology facilitates easier production of polyurea greases which can be adopted by common soap-based grease manufacturers without requiring a sophisticated system which is used for conventional polyurea grease production.
