Mr. Sarraf has experience of over three decades in the oil and gas industry, having started his oil and gas career in India’s second-largest upstream oil company – Oil India Limited and worked there till 1991 where he inculcated the experience in various facets of E&P at oil field level. He joined ONGC in 1991 and handled various key assignments at corporate offices. These included restructuring ONGC from a statutory commission into a commercial corporation, including its financial restructuring and valuation.

Mr. Sarraf assumed the charge of Managing Director and CEO of ONGC Videsh in September 2011. He has introduced a ‘zero-based risk review’ mechanism for risk assessment in major acquisitions and mitigations of the risks. He laid emphasis on capability building and creating a systems-based approach to OVL’s activities in general and business development in particular. To accomplish this daunting task, he actively participated in the financial due diligence and price negotiations for the company’s major acquisitions, like Block BC-10 Brazil, NEMED Block Egypt, AFPC Project Syria, MECL Project Columbia, Rovuma Area I Block in Mozambique offshore, etc.; and guided the negotiating team for other acquisitions, resulting in substantial savings.

He was awarded the CEPM-PMA fellowship on December 2, 2013 by the Project Management Associates – India (PMA – India).

Mr. Sarraf earlier worked in ONGC Videsh Limited as Director (Finance) during February 2005 to December 2007. During this period, ONGC Videsh made significant acquisitions in Syria, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, Egypt and Myanmar. Mr Sarraf played key roles in the negotiation and conclusion of these transactions. During this period, the Company saw significant increase in its activities, production, revenue and profits. In December 2007, he joined ONGC as Director (Finance). In recognition of his achievements; he was given the Best CFO Award in Oil & Gas sector in India by CNBC in 2009 and 2011.

He was appointed as Chairperson of PNGRB in 2017 after superannuation from ONGC.