Amit Pachisia
Class of 2003


 

Tell us a little about your family background/ history. How has it influenced you?
I come from an entrepreneurial family background. I have been one of the first ones amongst my extended family to pursue a professional career. My father was a first generation entrepreneur and commenced with virtually nothing, succeeding in creating a successful business and reputation. Besides inspiring diligence and an ‘ownership’ attitude, he has supported me immensely in building my independent career.
I have a supportive mother and a talented sister.
I have been married for nearly twelve years and have two children. My wife is very easy going and a childhood buddy with whom I continue to share pretty much the same relationship as I shared 15 years back.
Overall, my family has been a great support system for me and I enjoy great independence on both, work and personal front.

Briefly describe your personal and professional achievements (including recent awards/ special projects).
Professional Achievements:
Currently heading the Investments team as ‘Chief Credit Officer’ at Clearwater Capital Partners India Private Limited. Also a Director at Clearwater Investment Advisors Private Limited.
Starting as an Associate at Clearwater 9 years back, I now head the Investment team of the firm and responsible for business performance.
Have played a key role in growth of Clearwater across businesses.
Have invested and exited investments across Offshore Bonds, Private equity, public equities and On-shore lending.
Managed multiple promoters and senior managements, turned around of companies, led restructurings, built management and operations in investee companies.
Represented Clearwater as nominee Director on boards of portfolio companies.
Key role in investor relations and presentations to global investors.
Closely work with top management and teams across multiple geographies.
After leading a very successful offshore bonds business in India during the last three years, selected to build the business initiative in Real estate lending.
Also play a key role in organizational aspects of business, including recruitments, systems and processes, business planning, etc.
Note on Clearwater: Clearwater is an SEC registered fund manager and advisor, currently managing $1.5 bn in Asia ($600 mm when I joined). India is one of the key geographies of the fund. The firm has key offices in New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, China and India. It is one of the few special situations funds that has successfully sustained in India during difficult periods involving two recessions and generated returns.
Personal Achievements:
Successfully managed to balance work life: personal life balance despite a demanding work profile. After losing 15 Kgs in 2011, further enhanced fitness levels.
Fitness and Sports enthusiast- Manage physical activities at least 5 days a week.
Currently pursuing Tennis after regular stints in cycling, running and golf.
Keen participant in extracurricular activities at workplace- was a satisfactory feat to win the Best Dancer at an annual office event and the Best Batsmen in a cricket tournament this year.
Known amongst global peers for “working hard and partying harder”

Tell us about your profile prior to attending ISB and recap your professional life after ISB, including your career progression.
Prior to ISB worked for a while in Audit and Tax during my CA course and post CA completion worked in debt syndications at Credit Lyonnais.
Was one of the younger candidates at ISB.
Post ISB, I joined industry – Joined Marico Ltd. working in Business Finance and Business Planning in 2003, a period characterized by a difficult macroeconomic scenario in India. Followed this by a management consulting role at Stern Stewart. In 2006 when the market improved joined Clearwater Capital on the buy side.
While stints at Marico and Stern Stewart were just about 3 years in aggregate, managed a promotion at both organizations.
It was never a plan to join a Private equity firm or become a Credit Head. In fact, the plan at ISB was to eventually become an entrepreneur. However, as my career progressed at Clearwater, the role has pretty much transformed to be an entrepreneur managing businesses. Each year has been different from the previous one and sometimes each consecutive day.
At Clearwater, joined the Investment team at the entry level of an Associate. Started working bottoms up starting with deal analysis, business analysis and industry analysis. Within three months of joining, executed my first transaction. Clearwater provided great opportunities and every year has seen different challenges. Work role gradually evolved to include extensive promoter and relationship management, transaction closures, M&As, conflict management including running companies owned by Clearwater and leading businesses followed by exits. Solving difficult situations and creating solutions resulted in recognition and promotions and now a business leadership position.
I have seen my share of pain, stress and failures in the overall process- In hindsight, the most memorable periods particularly the ones where failed investments were persevered and converted to successes.
Multiple promotions: 5 Designation changes at Clearwater. (Associate, AVP, VP, SVP, CCO). The most satisfying

How do you think your time at ISB has contributed to your career and personal growth?
ISB has contributed to my career in multiple ways.
It provided a strong foundation to the subsequent phases of my career. The key ones being a.) Fundamental soundness, and b.) Decision making in ambiguous business situations, and c.) Higher conviction on one’s steps.
The network made at ISB is long lasting- feeding from experiences of and guidance from one’s peers at ISB is a continuous process.