Previous Occupation: Member Corporate Team (Projects & Strategy): Compañía Sud Americana de Vapores: 2005-2007, Hong Kong
General Manager: Helios & Matheson: 2004-2005, India
Chief Navigating Officer: 1997-2003: Seaarland Shipping, Austria
Present Occupation: Regional Head-South & South East Asia, Shipping Finance, Structured Finance Group, Standard Chartered Bank, Singapore
Sector: Banking
Work Experience: Pre- ISB : About 5 years + Post ISB: 8 years
Interests – Professional/Personal:
Professional: I actively write about the shipping industry and financing and investing in shipping industry in leading dailies and industry publications. So far have been quoted/ published articles more than 20 times. I have also actively been involved as a speaker or panelist in all leading Shipping Conferences (on the panel of India Shipping Summit to be held in October 2012 in Mumbai, India).
Personal: Cycling (Did 424kms in May 2012 over 3 days from London to Liverpool to help a charity) and spending quality family time

Can you tell us a little about your family background/history?
I spent my formative years in Lucknow. Both my parents are state government employees. My father is now retired, while my mother is still employed with UPPCL (UP Power Corporation Ltd.).

Briefly describe your personal and professional achievements (including recent awards\special projects)
a. Last month I was featured in “Lloyd’s List Next Generation 2012: Most Influential People in The Global Shipping Industry”.  A Lloyd’s publication, the list features mainly shipping tycoons with shipping family history – I was one of the youngest and very few to have been selected.
b. In 2011 I was featured on the cover of “Marine Money” – one of the leading ship finance publications as one of the key shipping bankers in Asia.
c. Won several “Deal of the Year” awards for various transactions that I concluded from 2008-2012.
d. I was also felicitated in 2011 as the “Fellow of City Montessori School” – the Largest School (a Guinness World Record)in the world.

Tell us about your profile pre ISB, and recap your professional life after ISB including your career progression
I was one of the ‘diversity’ candidates in ISB. I used to sail on the high seas as a navigating officer in the merchant navy before ISB. ISB for me was a stepping stone into the corporate world of shipping. Little at the time did I know, that I would land up as a banker. 

As a part of the campus placements, I got two offers – first, in a commercial role in the shipping sector and the second in sales in the IT sector. I chose the latter in a quest to try something different. Within a short time, I realized my calling was in shipping after which I headed to Hong Kong to join CSAV in a ‘strategy’ role.

The transition to banking was incidental. I got married in 2006 and my wife who was then based in London, relocated to Hong Kong. However, soon her work took her to Singapore. This time it was my turn to follow! I came across a great opportunity in SCB with an enterprising and entrepreneurial team. It was a tough transition at the beginning but ever since, I have enjoyed being a banker.

Describe your fondest memory at ISB
The fondest and the most beautiful memory for me was meeting my wife, Sipika – that was my real campus ‘placement’!

In your personal life, how have you changed post-ISB? Do you see yourself doing something differently because you went to ISB? What has left a lasting impression?
Professionally, ISB has been a turning point in my life. It facilitated my move from Sea to Land (I still miss the sea water though!).  ISB gave me 2 things which have shaped my career so far – A strong foundation in management skills and a very strong professional network.  Every job I have been in post ISB, has been referred to me either through an ISB classmate, alum or a staff member.

If you have to sum up ISB in one word: Catalyst

What was the main highlight of your programme at the ISB? My peer circle

Word of advice for the current class?
Talk to each other, learn about yourselves and build relationships. They will take you a long way – far beyond placement season.

What was your favourite course/class at ISB and why? 
Negotiations class. I still apply what I learnt in that class in my day to day work life.

Was there anyone during your time at ISB who acted as a mentor for you? Tell us a little about this relationship and why it was valuable.
Four of my classmates and I came from the merchant navy. There were possibly only one or two candidates like us before. Our mentor was Ajit Rangnekar. He was the only one at that time on campus, who understood our background fully. Very few do what he did for us- personally approached each and every contact of his in the shipping industry to meet us. We will always treasure that help.  I still always consult him before my career moves.

What are the areas that you can contribute in to ISB?
As alum, I stay committed to whatever the institute assigns me to do.

What do you enjoy most about your current career position?
I have always enjoyed the shipping and the oil & gas industry, while on board or ashore. This job gives me a chance to stay close to the industry and contribute/influence it in a positive way.

What is the next new thing in the industry or vertical you are working in? Any trends that you can see?
Shipping is going through one of the worst cycles in history. There are several issues like oversupply, changing trade patterns, regulations, rising fuel costs, drying up of financing to name a few. Some of the previous business and financing models in this industry have probably lost relevance today and their revival will be very difficult. Hence, I feel when shipping comes out of this cycle; it will be with alternative financing sources and some dynamic changes in the industry like new ship designs. I look forward to being a part of it.

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