Ojha now new captain of NIA

KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 25: The government has appointed journalist and academic Sharad Ojha as the Chairman of the Nepal Insurance Authority (NEA). The decision was made during a Cabinet meeting held yesterday in the capital. Ojha, who holds a postgraduate degree, has been actively engaged in the academic field in recent years.

The selection committee formed for the appointment recommended three candidates: former Secretary Ram Sharan Pudasaini, former Chairman of the Health Insurance Board Damodar Basoula, and Sharad Ojha. After a competitive selection process involving 11 candidates, the Cabinet, based on a proposal by Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel, appointed Ojha for a four-year tenure. At 33, he becomes the youngest chairman in the authority’s history.

Leadership Transition Following Corruption Allegations

Ojha replaces Surya Prasad Silwal, who was relieved of his duties following a corruption case filed against him by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA). Silwal was dismissed a month before his term was set to expire. Since his removal, the authority had been led on an interim basis by Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Madan Dahal, for the past two and a half months.

Professional Background

Sharad Ojha brings extensive experience in communication, law, and academia. Over the past 12 years, he has held senior management positions in media, legal, and corporate sectors. He holds a master’s degree in management from Tribhuvan University and undergraduate degrees in law and management from Tribhuvan and Pokhara Universities.

Ojha has served as an expert for the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). He previously worked as a senior manager and special correspondent at Clickmandu.com and contributed to several media outlets, including Himal Khabar Patrika, Nepali Times, Desh Sanchar Online, and Prashasanik Monthly. Additionally, he has experience working with Trinity Exim and Varun Beverages, the company responsible for Pepsi’s production and distribution in Nepal.

In academia, Ojha lectures on Business Environment and International Business at Apex College, Capital College, Imperial College, and Siam College. He also teaches Tourism Policy and Planning at the Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management (NATHM). His expertise spans business law, financial policy, monetary policy, revenue administration, and economic analysis.

Political Affiliations

Ojha is known to have close ties with the establishment faction of the Nepali Congress (NC). His ancestral home is in Ganyapdhura, Dadeldhura, the home constituency of  NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba. Currently, he is a permanent resident of Kanchanpur. Reports suggest that Deuba fully backed Ojha in securing his appointment.