Mr. Ajay Narayan Deshpande holds a B. Tech degree in Chemical Engineering and M. Tech in Management & Systems, both degrees secured with top honours, from LIT – Nagpur and IIT – Delhi respectively. He is an elected Fellow of INAE (Indian National Academy of Engineering) as also of IIChE (Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers). He is a former Director (Technical) of M/s Engineers India Limited (EIL) where he also held additional charge as C&MD before his superannuation in 2018.

Post his superannuation from EIL, he is engaged in providing Technical Advisory / Consultancy to the industry sector, the management consultancy sector and the education sector. He has been an INAE Distinguished Visiting Prof and Industry Expert in Chemical Engineering and also been selected by AICTE for a similar role. His current areas of professional interest include renewable fuels in addition to his core competency in Petroleum Refining and Petrochemicals. When at EIL, he was a member of the Make in India committee of the administrative ministry and was also part of several Board-level delegations deputed overseas by the ministry for similar purpose.