Sona Comstar appoints Jeffrey Mark Overly as new chairman after Sunjay Kapur’s sudden death; inducts Priya Sachdev Kapur to board

Sona BLW Precision Forgings Ltd. , also known as Sona Comstar, has announced key changes to its Board of Directors following the untimely passing of Sunjay Kapur, the company’s Non-Executive Chairman.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions and lasting legacy, the Board has posthumously conferred upon him the honorary title of Chairman Emeritus, the company stated in an exchange filing on Monday.

The Board of Directors chose Jeffrey Mark Overly as the new Chairperson of the auto components manufacturer.

“The Board of Directors of the Company appointed Jeffrey Mark Overly, as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Company. His re-appointment as the Independent Director is approved by the Board in their meeting held on 30th April, 2025, for the second term of 5 consecutive years, i.e. till 11th February, 2031, which is subject to approval of shareholder in the ensuing AGM of the Company,” the company said in the exchange filing.

With nearly five years on the board and a 100% attendance record across all meetings, the company said that Overly has played a key role in board discussions despite operating from a different time zone. Overly has previously held senior roles at Blackstone, Kohler Company, General Motors, and Delphi.

In another key move, the Board has approved the appointment of Priya Sachdev Kapur as an Additional Non-Executive Director, effective June 23, 2025, based on the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee. Her appointment is subject to shareholder approval.

The company confirmed that Sunjay Kapur’s wife Sachdev has not been debarred from holding any directorship by Sebi or any other authority.

The board had entrusted the day-to-day operations of the company to a professional management team, led by Vivek Vikram Singh, its Managing Director and CEO since 2019. The board of directors consisted of, among others, Vivek Vikram Singh, Shradha Suri Marwah, the chairperson and managing director of Subros—and the current president of Automotive Components Manufacturers Association—and Manisha Girotra, the chief executive officer of Moelis in India, the company had revealed in a June 16 statement.

Sunjay Kapur, who had served as Chairman of Sona Comstar since 2019, was instrumental in charting the company’s strategic direction. Under his leadership, the company broadened its global footprint across India, the US, Mexico, China, and Serbia; achieved stock market listings on both the BSE and NSE; and made key moves into future mobility technologies with the acquisition of Novelic. He also supported the company’s entry into sustainable mobility beyond the automotive sector through the purchase of a railway components business from Escorts Kubota.

Kapur, a well-known polo player and close friend of Prince William, the Prince of Wales, died unexpectedly a few weeks back during a polo match in Windsor. He had previously been married to Indian actress Karisma Kapoor, with whom he had two children.