Shanti Ekambaram: A Leader in Banking
Shanti Ekambaram to Retire
Shanti Ekambaram will retire on October 31, 2025. She has spent over 30 years at Kotak Mahindra Bank. Her exit comes after the founder, Uday Kotak, stepped down from his executive role in September 2023.
Ekambaram’s Journey
Ekambaram joined Kotak Mahindra Bank in 1991. She played a key role in its growth. Under her leadership, the bank transformed from a financial services firm to a leading private sector bank.
Her Contributions
She led various important business areas, including:
- Investment banking
- Capital markets
- Corporate banking
- Treasury
- Consumer banking
In 2024, she became the deputy Managing Director. This happened after the joint MD, KVS Manian, left to join Federal Bank as CEO.
Recognition and Leadership
CEO Ashok Vaswani praised her for her “entrepreneurial thinking” and “unwavering commitment to excellence.” He highlighted her leadership during regulatory scrutiny and internal transitions.
To strengthen the leadership team, the bank appointed Paritosh Kashyap as whole-time director. Kashyap has over 30 years of experience at Kotak and currently heads wholesale banking.
Other Women Leaders in Banking
Besides Ekambaram, other women leaders are also stepping down:
- Kaku Nakhate, CEO of Bank of America
- A. Manimekhalai, MD of Union Bank of India
However, the Reserve Bank of India has a woman deputy governor, Poonam Gupta. This is after nearly 14 years.
Senior Leaders’ Departures
Ekambaram’s departure adds to the list of senior leaders who have left since Uday Kotak’s retirement. These include:
- KVS Manian
- Dipak Gupta
- Virat Diwanji
- Milind Nagnur
- Jaimin Bhatt
- Ambuj Chandna
Ekambaram’s Experience
Ekambaram served as president of corporate and investment banking for 11 years. She then led consumer banking. She has extensive experience in:
- Investment banking
- Capital markets
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Fixed income
- Corporate banking
- Treasury products
