Born in 1932, a student of the Sydenham College of Commerce, Bombay, he joined the Company in 1952; was inducted on the Board of Directors of the Company in 1970; became the Deputy Chairman and Managing Director in 1975 and rose to become the Chairman and Managing Director in 1992. After guiding the Company in its strategic and decision making policies as the Executive Chairman for more than 20 years, he ceased to be whole time Director of the Company in September 2014.
In recognition of Mr. K. M. Sheth's lifelong and distinguished service to the Company and his invaluable contribution to the Indian maritime industry, the Board of Directors has appointed him as ‘Chairman Emeritus’ of the Company for life consequent upon his stepping down as Chairman and member of the Board of the Company w.e.f. November 09, 2025.
Previously, he held the position of President of the Indian National Shipowners Association (INSA) and was the employers' group Chairman in the International Labour Organization (ILO) plenary session in Geneva. He was the recipient of the highest national maritime ‘Varuna Award’ in 2005 by the National Maritime Committee. He was the Chairman of the South Asia Advisory Committee of Lloyds Register, Chairman of the South Asia Committee of Det Norske Veritas and Chairman of the Indian Committee of Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, Japan. He was also Chairman of Board of Governors of The Great Eastern Institute of Maritime Studies. He was a member of American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), USA and Southeast Asia Committee of Korean Register. He was also on the Members’ Representative Committee of The Britannia Steamship Insurance Association Holdings Limited, London.