MSME Conclave : “Financing SME Growth”

Ms. Pinky Mehta

President, Bombay Chamber & Chief Financial Officer, Aditya Birla Capital

A qualified chartered accountant with over three decades of diversified experience, Pinky Mehta has been a part of the Aditya Birla Group since 1991, having joined the group as its first woman officer. In her current role as the Chief Financial Officer of Aditya Birla Capital Limited, Pinky is responsible for Finance, Accounts, Banking, Secretarial, Taxation, MIS, Mergers, Restructuring, Acquisitions and Fund Raising, as well as the ongoing development and monitoring of control systems and reporting of financial performance.

Prior to joining Aditya Birla Capital, she was the Chief Financial Officer of Aditya Birla Nuvo Ltd., where she was instrumental in the demerger of Madura Garments to Pantaloons Fashion & Retail Limited. She played a strong supporting role in the merger of Aditya Birla Nuvo Ltd., with Grasim; followed by the subsequent listing of Aditya Birla Capital Limited. Over the years, her contribution in the areas of demergers, mergers and acquisitions for the Aditya Birla Group companies has been significant. She was actively involved in the demerger of the cement business, the joint venture with the Sun Life Group for the life insurance business and acquisitions of Madura Garments, Transworks Information Services Limited, Minacs Worldwide Inc. and Apollo Sindhoori Capital Investments Limited.

Pinky is one of the distinguished Women Leaders in the Aditya Birla Group. She was conferred the ‘Chairman’s Award for Exceptional Contributor’ 2008 and ‘Chairman’s Award for Accomplished Leader’, 2016. She is also the recipient of the coveted Institute of Chartered Accountants of India CA CFO – Woman Award, 2016 and ET Prime’s Women Leadership Award, 2021

Mr. Rajan Raje

Chairperson- MSME Committee, Bombay Chamber & CEO, Nichem Solutions

He is a chemistry & management professional with rich industrial experience of 44 years.
Before becoming an entrepreneur, he worked with a UK based company named Willet International as Country Head. His initial industry exposure consisted of diverse areas namely printing inks, coding systems, paints, rust preventives, agriculture, fisheries, water proofing systems etc.
He became an entrepreneur in 1995 by establishing a partnership firm – ADVANCED AGROTECH to work on post-harvest fresh produce preservation solutions. He grew the product portfolio with unique chemical solutions like drinking water purification media, polymer additives, pre- & post-harvest agriculture inputs, home & personal care ingredients & disinfectants. ADVANCED AGROTECH was renamed to NICHEM SOLUTIONS in 2014 & was lead by him along with his partners – Prof VC Malshe & Aniket Malshe.
NICHEM stands for niche chemicals. At NICHEM, he is bullish about creating eco-friendly, non-toxic & sustainable technologies which are beneficial & affordable by the end user or the common people. Today, NICHEM has 100+ products in its basket catering to diverse applications. He looks after the business development, strategy & expansion plans for the organization. Investment in Innovation, Application Development & People Management drives him. He is open to embrace new technologies/softwares to upgrade systems for professional working which is reflected in the culture of NICHEM.
Apart from heading NICHEM, he is on the Board of Directors of Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI). He heads the MSME Committee of BCCI & Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICC). He is also a part of the Agri Committee & Diversity & Inclusion (DNY) Committee of BCCI. As an MSME entrepreneur, he has seen the challenges faced by this sector. Thus, he is instrumental in leveraging the right platform through BCCI so that MSMEs can collaborate with credible service providers to help them progress & sustain in the long run.
He does business for its love & satisfaction rather than only earning profits. He encourages his team to be methodical, thoughtful, practical & professional with financial discipline which is a must for the success & sustainance of MSMEs today.
He is a go-getter & problem solver by nature. He nurtures good & long lasting relations with customers & stakeholders. He is conscious about social & environment obligation & believes in giving back.
His hobbies include Music, Sports & Travel.

Mr. Nilesh Shah

Group President & MD , Kotak Mahindra AMC

Nilesh Shah is Managing Director of Kotak AMC.

Nilesh lead his team to the Best Fund House of the Year Award at all the mutual funds where he has worked viz. Kotak, ICICI Prudential and Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund.

Nilesh is a part time member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. He is a part time member of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). He is a member of the Board of Association of Mutual Funds in India and a Member of CoBoSAC committee of SEBI.

Ms. Gopika Gopakumar

Senior Assistant Editor, Livemint

Gopika Gopakumar currently works as a Senior Assistant editor with Mint reporting on Reserve Bank of India and banking system. She has over 15 years of experience in financial journalism across print and television media. She has previously worked with the largest Indian media conglomerates – Network18 & Times Group. Recipient of the 2013 IMF Journalism Fellowship Program, I was chosen to cover the Annual & Spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund in Washington D.C. She is a highly skilled on air TV reporter and producer with the ability to deliver credible news within a deadline. Her expertise lies in breaking big corporate stories, conducting big interviews with Government officials, CEOs and regulators, writing news reports for print and electronic media and producing news based TV shows. She has also worked on documentary films including one for the Reserve Bank of India on its financial outreach programme and also several news documentaries on the state of agriculture and other developmental issues in Maharashtra. While at CNBC-TV18, she has also had the opportunity to produce news feature shows called Indianomics, a weekly roundup of all the news about the Indian economy, and an award winning show on business stories from South India called Up South.
A respected business reporter with sound knowledge of banking and finance, she enjoys strong relationship with CEOs and regulators.

Mr. Sunil Kumar Sharma

General Manager & Zonal Head, Bank of Baroda

For More than 15 years of experience in banking & Finance, Shri Sunil Kumar Sharma, General Manager & Zonal Head of the largest Zone of Bank Of Baroda with business mix of ₹ 1.78 Lac Cr .
He was the Former MD & CEO of BOB Capital Market Limited. He is a strong business development professional with wide experience in corporate banking, Debt syndication, cross border lending both domestic and overseas. He has demonstrated history of working in the investment banking industry, skilled in Business planning, Branch banking, Due diligence, Requirement analysis and Debt resolution, navigating through its various challenges and transformations. With a rich wealth experience, he has developed a strong understanding of financial markets, customer relations and regulatory environments. His dedication and expertise have made him a valuable asset to Bank of Baroda, contributing significantly to its growth and success. Over more than 15 years, he had witnessed and adapted to the evolving landscape of banking, continually enhancing his skills and knowledge to stay ahead in the Banking & Finance Industry.

Shri Rudra Mishra

Asst.General Manager, SIDBI

With over 17 years of experience in development banking, Mr. Rudra Mishra is currently an Assistant General Manager at SIDBI, the principal financial institution for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India. He is experienced in sourcing, underwriting, due diligence, financial analysis, risk management, and monitoring of MSME borrowers, and analysing their viability, profitability, and sustainability.

He was also part of the team that strategized and operationalized the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS), a flagship initiative of the Government of India to provide relief and support to MSMEs affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This scheme has been widely recognized as a lifeline for MSMEs and a catalyst for economic recovery.

Mr. Mishra has worked in various geographies such as Gujarat, Maharashtra and Delhi in both lending and developmental roles of the bank.

Shri Asit Ranjan

General Manager, State Bank of India

Shri Asit Ranjan is the General Manager in State Bank of India and currently overseeing Network II of Mumbai Metro.
He brings 27 years of extensive experience in various banking operations, including a deep understanding of global treasury operations, foreign exchange (Forex), and branch banking. Additionally, with five years of hands-on experience in the European banking sector, he has gained valuable insights into international financial markets

Mr. N Srinivasan

General Manager Transaction Banking, IDBI Bank

• Experienced banker with over 27 years of banking experience spanning across Trade Finance, Corporate Banking, Treasury, Retail Banking and regulatory compliance
• Presently working in IDBI Bank as General Manager –Transaction Banking. Prior to this, he was working as Zonal Head and General Manager, Trade Sales & Operations, West Zone Mumbai
• Specialised in Trade Finance, with over 15 years of experience in handling all types of Trade Finance products including Export-Import Finance and Trade Advisory Services
• He is an avid participant in banking forums on Trade Finance. Prior to joining IDBI Bank, he was working with Bank of Baroda
• He is an associate member of Institute of Cost Accountants (ACMA) and Certified Associate of Indian Institute of Bankers

Mr. Sandeep Prakash

Assistant General Manager, MSME Sales, Bank of Baroda

More than 20 years of professional experience in Banking & Financial service sector with proven track record in Business Banking, Business Development, Relationship Management, in SME & Mortgage Business.  In Mortgage Business, have worked with Private sector bank including Citibank and ICICI Bank while for Business Banking have worked with HDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank & IndusInd Bank.
Post the stint with Private sector Banks, have joined Bank of Baroda in 2023 and the journey has been pretty enriching as a witness to the changes happening in the Bank,  Key skill set involve strategic planning & Implementation, New Business Development, Portfolio and Team development highlighting the blend of Financial expertise, Customer focus & Strategic leadership

Ms. Tania Das

Senior Manager, Forex Dept., Mumbai Zone, Bank of Baroda

Ms. Tania Das is an accomplished Certified Trade Finance Specialist with over 13 years of experience in the Banking and Finance industry.  Driven by her motto of “Banking with Compliance,” she has cultivated a broad range of expertise across various facets of banking, including branch forex operations and trade finance. In her career, Ms. Das has excelled as a Team Lead in Trade Finance Back Office (TFBO) in GIFT City, Gandhinagar & also worked at the Integrated Corporate Financial Services Branch in Mumbai.  Currently, she is the Senior Manager of the Forex and Trade Finance department where she heads the Forex Business for the Mumbai Zone.  Her extensive hands-on experience with Import & Export financing products further exemplifies her deep knowledge and leadership in the field.

Mr. Neil Borate

Deputy Editor, Livemint

Neil Borate is Deputy Editor at Mint, where he heads the personal finance team. Neil is a graduate in law and economics, with a postgraduate diploma in investments from the University of Birmingham, UK. He has also passed the CFA Level 1 exam. Neil started writing about personal finance in 2016 at Value Research, a mutual fund research portal. After a stint at a fintech, Neil joined Mint in 2019 as a mutual fund reporter. He was made Deputy Editor in 2022. He has also co-authored the book – The Big Bull of Dalal Street on Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, one of India & most successful investors.

Ms. Shobha Iyer

Director Commercial, Olea

Seasoned banker with two decades experience in the Indian trade finance industry. Extensive experience in handling Indian corporates across SMEs, MSMEs, Mid corporates and Large corporates through her experience from working in Kotak Mahindra, Standard Chartered Bank, RBL Bank and now Olea, a Standard Chartered Bank backed fintech working extensively to support SMEs and MSMEs in India.

Mr. Shirish Mathur

Head- SME Products & Digital Platforms, Aditya Birla Finance Ltd

Shirish Mathur is the Head of SME Products & Digital Platforms at Aditya Birla Finance Ltd. and leads the Payments Business for Aditya Birla Capital. With a distinguished 19-year career, he has held diverse roles in digital B2B platforms, payments, and SME banking, cultivating a unique blend of expertise.

Shirish’s notable achievements include the launch of ‘Udyog Plus’, a comprehensive digital B2B platform empowering MSMEs in India. He has also architected award-winning innovations like InstaBIZ, Connected Banking, and Eazypay, showcasing his prowess in pioneering payment solutions and transforming digital platforms. Through his endeavours, Shirish has significantly enhanced the digital transaction landscape and financial service interactions for MSMEs.

Mr. Prakash Sankaran

Managing Director & CEO, Invoicemart

Mr. Prakash Sankaran is the MD & CEO for Invoicemart (www.invoicemart.com) – the market leader in TReDS. TReDS is Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) is a regulated and an evolving fintech model/marketplace in B2B segment in India. Prior to joining Invoicemart, Prakash was the CEO for Axis Bank, Singapore where he handled International Trade, Treasury and Corporate Banking for growth out of ASEAN and Oceania markets. He has over 24+ years of extensive experience in the financial services industry and has exposure to Fintech, Retail Banking, Commercial Banking, Treasury and International Banking.

Mr. Sandeep Varma

CEO, Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE)

Shri Sandeep Varma is an Economist by education, post-graduate in Business Management and Development Banker by profession. Since July 2020, Sh. Varma has been the Chief Executive Officer of CGTMSE, the first guarantee institution in India and one of the largest in the world. He has been instrumental in changing the edifice of CGTMSE by constant innovation and introducing massive end-to-end digitization of processes including enabling APIs with lending aimed at enhancing the “ease of doing business” for them. He joined SIDBI, the apex Financial Institution in India for promotion, financing and development of MSME Sector, in 1991. He has diversified banking exposure of over 30 years in policy formulation and corporate strategy building; SME financing; Venture Capital (Fund of Funds); Human Relations; capacity building; developmental initiatives; etc.

Shri. Deependra Singh Kushwah

I.A.S. , Development Commissioner (Industries) Government of Maharashtra

Deependra Singh Kushwah is an Indian Administrative Services Officer – 2006, Maharashtra cadre. He is currently posted as Development Commissioner, Directorate of Industries, Government of Maharashtra. In his current capacity he is managing Ease of Doing Business measures of Government of Maharashtra along with taking sustained efforts for promoting exports from the state. In addition to that Shri Kushwah plays a key role in establishing a favorable investment ecosystem in Maharashtra by guiding the team at MAITRI (a dedicated investor facilitation cell). Shri Kushwah has significantly contributed in creating policy led economic development by releasing Export Policy and IT Policy. Several other sectoral policies for leather, retail, MSME and flatted gala, and Circular Economy are under preparation / revision under his observation.

Prior to this he was posted as Commissioner, Skill Development, Employment and Entrepreneurship in Govt. of Maharashtra. He also served as the ex-officio Chief Executive Officer of the Maharashtra State Skill Development Society (MSSDS) and the Maharashtra State Innovation Society (MSInS). MSSDS works towards implementing the various skill development initiatives of the Centre and the State in Maharashtra and MSInS works towards creating a vibrant ecosystem of startups and innovation in Maharashtra.

Prior to this assignment, he has worked as the Chief Officer, Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority. Also, He has also worked as District Collector and District Magistrate of Mumbai Suburban, Nashik and Sangli districts and CEO Zilla Parishad of Nanded and Dhule districts, respectively.

Mr. Rajiv Anand

Senior Vice President, Bombay Chamber & Deputy Managing Director, Axis Bank

Rajiv Anand, 58, with an illustrious career spanning more than 35 years, has focused on
various facets of the financial services industry. Having held key management positions at
leading global financial institutions, he is widely recognized for his strengths in capital markets and for successfully building new businesses to scale.

Rajiv joined Axis Asset Management Co. Ltd. in 2009 as its founding Managing Director & CEO, building a robust business model and team in a short span of time. In his next assignment, he was appointed as the President of Retail Banking at Axis Bank, where he spearheaded the business with his sharp acumen leading to the achievement of several key milestones during this five-year stint. Subsequently, he was inducted into the Board of the Bank. He also took over as the Head of Wholesale Banking to steer the business ahead, ensuring growth profitability and sustainability. Currently, he is the Deputy Managing Director of the Bank, leading some of the most critical functions in the Bank, including Wholesale Banking and Digital Banking, along with support functions like Marketing and Corporate Communications.

Rajiv is also a member of the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, Committee of
Directors, Stakeholders Relationship Committee, and the Committee of Whole Time Director within the Bank. In addition, he serves on the National Committee of Banking at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and has been appointed as Senior Vice President at the Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI). He holds a degree in Commerce and is a qualified Chartered Accountant.