Board of Directors

V P Nandakumar

Chairman

He is the MD & CEO of Manappuram Finance Ltd., one of India’s leading non-banking financial companies (NBFC) and the pioneer of the institutionalised model of the gold loans business. Mr. Nandakumar took over the reins of a single branch family business in 1986, and over the next three decades presided over its growth and transformation into a financial sector powerhouse. His vision, values and leadership were instrumental in scripting this story that today touches millions of lives in India.

Manappuram’s origins go back to 1949 when it was founded by the late V.C. Padmanabhan, father of Mr. Nandakumar. In those days, the firm was into money lending, and pawnbroking carried out on a modest scale at Valapad, a backward coastal village in Thrissur district of Kerala. After taking over in 1986 (the year his father expired), Mr. Nandakumar soon set about expanding the business in line with his ambitions and vision.

In 1992, he incorporated Manappuram Finance Ltd., and within three years (in 1995) managed to get the company listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange. Since then, he has led from the front to transform Manappuram Finance Ltd. into a leading NBFC present across India with 4,637 branches in 28 states and UTs, with Assets under management (AUM) of about ₹27,224 crore, (nearly US$ 4 billion) and a workforce of over 30,000.

In recent years, Mr. Nandakumar has resolutely steered the company’s diversification into microfinance, home loans, vehicle finance, SME and personal lending to reshape the company into a full-spectrum NBFC. Today, about 30 per cent of the company’s total business comes from the non-gold side.

Mr. Nandakumar’s achievements in business have earned him national recognition. On May 26, 2018, a special issue of the Business World magazine profiled him as one among 40 of India’s most valuable CEOs. Besides, Manappuram Finance Ltd. has emerged as one of the leading wealth creators in the Indian stock market. In December 2019, the Economic Times newspaper published the ET500 list of Top Wealth Creators of 2019 with Manappuram Finance Ltd. as the chart topper.

Other than the focus on business, the cause of the wider community is central to his vision. He established the Manappuram Foundation at Valapad in 2009 to drive the corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme of the Manappuram group, even before the Companies Act made it mandatory. Today, the Manappuram Foundation oversees a wide range of projects in education, health care, and overall development of the rural communities.

Mr. V.P. Nandakumar was born in 1954, holds a post-graduate degree in science and additional qualifications in Banking and Foreign Trade. He is a managing committee member of leading trade and industry associations such as FICCI, Assocham and FIDC. In January 2019, he was appointed to the Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode. In July 2019, he was elected as an International Director of the Association of Lions Clubs International at its Milan (Italy) convention.

He is the Chairman of the Kerala state council of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). He promoted Manappuram Finance Ltd. in 1992 and today the company has a pan-India presence with 3747 branches across 27 Indian states. Business Today, a leading business magazine ranked him among India’s Top 100 CEOs. Earlier, in December 2013, Business World had listed his name amongst India’s Most Valuable CEOs. He is widely recognized as a leading wealth creator for investors in India’s stock market circles.

B N Raveendrababu

Managing Director

Master’s Degree in Commerce from the Calicut University and completed his intern from the Institute of Certified Management Accountants. He held senior positions in Finance and Accounts in various organizations in the Middle East. Further, he has been on the Board of Manappuram Finance Limited since 1992. He is currently the Managing Director of the Company.

S V Raja Vaidyanathan

Non Executive, Non Independent Director

B.Tech (IIT Madras), MBA (IIM Calcutta), AICWAI, ACS and has more than 40 years of experience in the field of Financial Services, Infrastructure, Media, Telecom & Retail sectors. He is the founder of the Company and has been actively involved in building Asirvad for the last decade and a half initially as Chairman and MD and last 11 years as MD of he company.

Gautam Saigal

Non Executive, Non Independent Director

He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and a postgraduate in Commerce from the Calcutta University. Mr Gautam Saigal is the founding partner of Pachira Financial Services LLP. He has over 24 years of experience in financial services covering private equity investment, investment banking and advisory services.
Till mid-2013, Gautam was the Managing Director of AA Indian Development Capital Advisors Ltd., advisors to the India dedicated mid-market focussed private equity fund launched by the Ashmore Group and Alchemy Partners, UK. Prior to this, he was Vice President, AIG Global Investment Group (Asia) and Co-Head of its India private equity advisory practice. Gautam has been a member of the Board of team and Board Committees in several companies including in Financial services, Telecom, Energy distribution, Healthcare, IT services, Consumer products, logistics, Infrastructure etc.

Till mid-2013, Gautam was the Managing Director of AA Indian Development Capital Advisors Ltd., advisors to the India dedicated mid-market focussed private equity fund launched by the Ashmore Group and Alchemy Partners, UK. Prior to this, he was Vice President, AIG Global Investment Group (Asia) and Co-Head of its India private equity advisory practice. Gautam has been a member of the Board of team and Board Committees in several companies including in Financial services, Telecom, Energy distribution, Healthcare, IT services, Consumer products, logistics, Infrastructure etc

A Ramanathan

Independent Director

He retired as a Chief General Manager from NABARD in Micro Credit innovations Department. He is an expert in Institutional Development, Organisational Development, Organisational Behaviour, Small Business Development, Training need assessment, Training techniques, etc. He has more than 35 yrs of rich experience in the banking industry.

D R Dogra

Independent Director

Former Managing Director & CEO of CARE Ratings. Have around 39 years of experience in the financial sector in the areas of banking and credit rating. He has expertise in product conception and development across all sectors including Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Finance, and SME among others. Have maintained a high growth trajectory after taking over as acting Managing Director and made CARE the second largest rating agency.

He has worked closely with the Government of India, especially the Department of Economic Affairs and Government of Maharashtra (Progressive Maharashtra events) besides other ministries. He has been awarded the prestigious IPE (Institute of Public Enterprises, Hyderabad) Corporate Excellence Award for contribution to this field in 2013. And have also received IPE BFSI Leader Award. A prolific speaker at important seminars held by the CII, ASSOCHAM, and FICCI and also delivers lectures in various Management Colleges. Also, showcase CARE in media discussions.

T Balakrishnan

Independent Director

A former member of Indian Administrative Service Mr Balakrishnan retired as Additional Chief Secretary, Industries and IT Departments Kerala. He has rich experience in various fields including Public Administration, Regulations, Industry, Tourism,Infrastructure, IT and Local Self Government. He has worked in TN, Kerala, Delhi and New York in his long career. He has served in more than 40 Boards including State PSUs, Central PSUs, Statutory Boards and reputed Private Sector Companies, as Director. He has attended several National and International Conferences, Training Programs and Seminars.

He has been appointed as Independent Director of the Company. During his illustration career as an IAS officer, he has held a various key administrative position in Kerala Government like- Additional Chief Secretary -– Kerala Government, Excise Commissioner, Secretary, Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Managing Director, KTDC, District Collector, Trivandrum, Director, Tourism, Secretary, Excise Board of Revenue. He was also Regional Director, America, Govt. of India, Tourist Office, New York, and Deputy Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, New Delhi. Further, he was Managing Director of INKEL Limited from 2011-2017. Presently, he is a Chairman & MD, Kerala High-Speed Rail.

T M Manoharan

Independent Director

He is a retired officer of Indian Forest Service (IFS). He was Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Forces, Kerala, and Chairman of Kerala State Electricity Board as well as Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission. He holds a Masters Degree in Chemistry and Sociology and is also a law graduate.

Pushya Sitaraman

Independent Director

She is a Law graduate from Madras Law College and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Arts from Stella Maris College. She is a designated Senior Advocate of the Madras High Court and has been practising as an advocate for over 35 years, specializing in the field of taxation and corporate laws.

She hails from a family of lawyers. Mrs.Pushya Sitaraman took her Mediation law training from Geetha Ravindra, a renowned attorney in Virginia Supreme Court, USA. She has completed basic and advanced training at ADR Group of UK. She has been actively mediating disputes with the Tamil Nadu Mediation and Conciliation Centre, referred by and affiliated to the Madras High Court for nearly ten years.

Subrata Kumar Atindra Mitra

Independent Director

In the year 1977, Mr. S.K Mitra started his career with Bank of India and played a vital role in setting up the Merchant Banking Division of the Bank. During the period from 1978 to 1984, he worked for Standard Chartered Bank in investment banking and was advisor for several domestic and international business houses for new projects and acquisitions.
Later, in year 1985, Mr. Mitra joined American Express Bank and was the head of Corporate Banking and Investment Banking in India. He also worked for the GIC Mutual Fund, Aditya Birla Group. He joined Aditya Birla Group in 1994 as Director, Financial Services and set up a wide range of successful ventures.
Served as Independent Director on the Board and Committees of several reputed organization. Currently, he is India Correspondent for Asia Asset Management , Hong Kong. Continues to be an Advisor to a large international bank..Has been advisor to a few PE firms and Start Up firms. Have also been a nominee director on Board of companies on behalf of PE firms. Continues to be associated with several international and domestic NGOs and business chambers in India. He is a founding Governing Council Member of the newly registered Association of Corporate Independent Directors (ACIND).

Later, in year 1985, he joined American Express Bank and was the head of Corporate Banking and Investment Banking in India. He also worked for the GIC Mutual Fund, Aditya Birla Group. He joined Aditya Birla Group in 1994 as Director, Financial Services.

Served as Independent Director on the Board and Committees of several reputed organization. Currently, he is India Correspondent for Asia Asset Management, Hong Kong.

Abhijit Sen

Independent Director

He retired as Chief Financial Officer- Citi Bank, India Subcontinent in 2015 after serving the organization for almost 20 years. Post Retirement, he is associated with a big four firm as an External Advisor, for their activities in the Banking and Financial Services Sector. He also chairs the Audit Committee of reputed organizations. In the past, he was on the Board of National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL). He has a B.Tech (Hons) degree from the IIT, Kharagpur and a PGDM from the IIM, Kolkata with majors in Finance & Information System.

Harshan Kollara

Independent Director

Experienced Financial Services professional, with over 40 years of experience in banking & Financial services in India and abroad. Has been with diverse institutions (Union Bank of India, ICICI bank (as EVP and Head of International banking), Union bank of California (as Vice president and Regional Head of South Asia Region) and Federal bank (as its Executive Director). Good project management experience in setting up institutions. Has been Non-Executive Director, Experian credit information co of India p ltd, has approved person status with UK regulator FCA. Extensive experience in foreign exchange, cross border trade Finance, payment business, consumer credit, Core banking application system implementation, and compliance including AML, CTF & financial crime prevention practices. Experience in global standards and best practices in Governance. Harshan is an alumnus of Mumbai University.

Ms. Anita Belani

Independent Director

Ms. Anita Belani holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Delhi University and Master’s in Business Management from Xavier School of Management (XLRI), Jamshedpur. She has significant experience of over 3 decades in Human Resource and Strategy orientation. Her experience includes consultation across sectors at Board / CEO levels in areas such as Org Transformation, Market Entry Strategy, Leadership, Strategy Clarification, CEO Succession & Culture Building.

Ms. Anita has served as the Managing Director and India Head for Russel & Reynolds, an operating partner at Gaja Capital Partners, and has held senior roles at KPMG, Jardine Fleming, Sun Microsystems.