Mr. Mohan Tanksale

Mr. Mohan Tanksale holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science, Master's degree in English Literature. He is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India and a certified Associate of the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance. He has a career as a banker having spent over four decades in the Indian banking industry. He is one of the most senior and respected bankers in India, having served as the Chairman & Managing Director of Central Bank of India and the CEO of Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and held senior positions with Union Bank of India and Punjab National Bank. He was a Banking & Fintech Advisor to Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and advisor and mentor to Experian Credit Information Company of India Private Limited.

Besides serving on various Company Boards, he is also Strategic Consultant of SWIFT India Domestic Messaging Services Limited and a Council member to MelJol (NGO). Conferred with several awards, distinctions and accolades during his rich career, he has won the GOLDEN PEACOCK HR EXCELLENCE AWARD 2012, PERSON OF THE YEAR for his contribution to Financial Inclusion by SKOCH Foundation.

Mr. Chandru Badrinarayanan

Mr. Chandru Badrinarayanan is an alumni of INSEAD business school, France. He has 4 decades of experience across Banking, Global Equities, Fixed Income markets, Risk Management, ESG and Climate Analytics. He was Executive Director & Head of MSCI's India business and played a key role in catalyzing ESG Investments and Passive investing in India. At Crisil Ltd (a S&P company) he was a founding member of the Risk Solutions business and headed various other businesses as a Senior Director. He has also contributed to national policy on sustainable finance regulations.

Mr. Badrinarayanan is also an Independent Director on the Board of Brickworks Ratings India Private Limited, a full service credit rating firm.

Dr. Brinda Jagirdar

Dr. Brinda Jagirdar holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Mumbai University, MS in Economics from the University of California at Davis, USA and Master’s in Arts in Economics from Gokhale Institute Pune. She is a senior economist specialising in areas relating to the Indian economy and banking. She is an Independent Director on several corporate boards. She is a member of RBI’s Depositor Education and Awareness Fund Committee and is on the Governing Council of Treasury Elite, a knowledge-sharing platform for finance professionals. She is on the Banking and Finance Committee of the Indian Merchants Chamber. She was a member of the Research Advisory Committee of the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance. She retired as Chief Economist, at State Bank of India.

As part of the Bank’s Top Management team, her work at SBI involved tracking developments in the Indian and global economy and analysing implications for policy, participating in the Bank’s Asset Liability Committee and Central Management Committee meetings as an invitee and conducting research studies on relevant issues. She was a member of Banking, Finance & Economics Committee of the Bombay Chamber of Commerce, member of the Monetary Policy Group of Indian Banks’ Association and editorial committee member of the journal of the Indian Banks’ Association.

Mr. Biharilal Deora

Mr. Biharilal Deora is a Chartered Financial Analyst, a rank holder Chartered Accountant and a Certified Financial Planner. He holds Master’s in Commerce from Veer Narmad South Gujarat University. He is an investment professional with over 20 years of experience in credit research, strategy, and business analysis. He is a certified International Wealth Manager (CIWM), AIWM and Credit Research Analyst (CCRA), NISM.

Prior to joining the founding team of Abakkus, Mr. Deora served as advisor to various single-family offices on credit investments. He also serves as an advisor to various education and industry associations and provides perspectives on policy, governance and market issues related to banking, capital markets, insurance, pensions to regulators across the globe.

Mr. Deora has worked at global firms such as Sutherland, Fidelity, Credit Suisse and Reliance Industries. Mr. Deora also serves as visiting faculty to various higher education institutes.

Besides on the Board of Abakkus Group Companies, he is a Director of Association of Portfolio Managers in India and Association of Registered Investment Advisers.

Mr. Mrugank Paranjape

Mrugank Paranjape has over 34 years of experience at CXO levels in the financial services industry in India and overseas, specialising in banking, asset management, commodities exchange and technology. Paranjape was the MD & CEO of NCDEX e Markets Ltd. and, prior to that, the MD & CEO of Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX), India’s first listed and leading commodity exchange. Earlier, he had successful stints in India and abroad with global financial institutions, including Deutsche Bank, ICICI Prudential, W.I. Carr Securities, ING Barings, and Citibank. He is an expert and consultant in the field of capital and commodity markets. He also serves on several boards. He is a Non-Executive Independent Director on the Central Board of the State Bank of India, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Sewa International, and Chair of the Board of the Mumbai School of Economics and Public Policy. He is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, and the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

Dr. Nirakar Pradhan

Dr. Nirakar Pradhan is a distinguished finance professional holding notable certifications including CFA, FRM, PRM, and CAIIB, brings over three decades of experience in the financial industry across diverse cultural landscapes in India and Europe. Adept leadership and strategic acumen, with consistency in delivering pioneering solutions in Treasury, Investment, and Risk Management domains. Proficient in spearheading strategic endeavours that optimize financial processes, mitigate risks, and drive sustainable growth while promoting innovation and excellence in the financial sector. Driven by a relentless passion for advancing financial education and fostering best market practices, exploring challenging leadership role, to leverage extensive expertise in Treasury, Investment, and Enterprise Risk Management to lead transformative initiatives within global financial institutions or industry associations.

He has held key leadership roles in prestigious organizations such as State Bank of India (SBI), Generali Group, and as the first CEO of PRMIA India, showcasing adaptability and expertise in multi-cultural environments and recognized for strategic acumen and vision, notably as the first Chief Investment Officer at Future Generali India Life Insurance, where successfully devised and executed ambitious plans, achieving top quartile investment returns. He is known for fostering dynamic and adaptable cultures within teams. Successfully transformed operational losses into significant profits, achieving multi-million-dollar turnarounds through strategic investments.

Further, he is the Founding Director of Finkasturi Nivesh Pvt Ltd, a SEBI registered Investment Advisor, showcasing entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to delivering tailored investment advisory solutions. He is also an author, multi-lingual speaker, actively involved in advocating financial education, innovation, and best market practices.

Mr. Sunil Singhania

Mr. Sunil Singhania is a Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India in Delhi with an all-India rank. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Mr. Singhania has more than 25 years of experience in garnering and managing business across asset management vertical including Alternative Investment Fund and Portfolio Management Services.

In 2018, he founded Abakkus Asset Manager LLP (now Abakkus Asset Manager Private Limited), reflecting his investment principles. He was rated among the Best fund managers by Outlook Business in 2016 and 2017 over a 10 year time frame. He was the first Indian to be appointed on the Global Board of CFA institute, USA (2013-2019). Currently he is the only Indian to be appointed on the IFRS Capital Market Advisory Committee (CMAC) (2020-2023). He was the Chief Investment Officer (CIO), Equities of Reliance Nippon Asset Management (now Nippon India Mutual Fund) overseeing – USD 11 billion of equity asset. He was also an Honorary Chairman of Investment committee of CFA Institute (2018-2019) managing – USD 450 million.