About Us

Key Milestones
People

One of India’s fast-growing and diverse financial services groups, Centrum has been serving the financial and advisory needs of institutions and individuals for two and a half decades.

Our Institutional services include Investment Banking and Broking to FIIs, Pension Funds, Indian Mutual Funds, Domestic Institutions etc. We also provide Wealth Management Services to HNIs and Family Offices, Affordable Housing finance in tier 1, 2 & 3 cities and Retail Broking services. Our Asset Management business has funds across Private Debt and Venture Capital.

We have been providing MSME Loans and Micro finance for a few years. With these businesses now merged into Unity Small Finance Bank, our most recent venture, they are expected to scale up substantially. We are a PAN India Group with a strong leadership team of seasoned professionals with a successful track record, operating out of 140+ cities and with an international presence in Singapore.

Key Milestones

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Founders and Promoters

Late. K. Byramjee

Founder

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Khushrooh Byramjee a CA from UK, was a man of great integrity who had an unerring knack of overcoming challenges.

Chandir Gidwani

Founder & Chairman Emeritus

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A distinguished first generation entrepreneur. As the Founder of the company, he has set up a robust platform that offers integrated financial services for Institutions as well as Individuals. He has contributed greatly to building a strong reputation and goodwill for the Group and built a highly experienced and competent management team, which is poised to lead Centrum into a high growth trajectory. An astute investor with a vision of identifying businesses that have immense growth potential. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant

Jaspal Bindra

Executive Chairman

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A veteran Banker with a successful global MNC career spanning over three decades. He has held coveted positions across MNC Banks such as Standard Chartered, UBS and Bank of America and has an impeccable track record of leading large banks, driving profitable growth, Mergers, Acquisitions, Turnarounds and the list goes on. He has played a key role in transitioning the Centrum Group, from a pure play financial advisory business to becoming a diversified financial services group. His present focus is on steering Centrum’s Banking venture - Unity Bank into a New Age Digital First Bank.

Board of Directors

Chandir Gidwani

Founder & Chairman Emeritus

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Jaspal Bindra

Executive Chairman

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Mahakhurshid Byramjee

Non-Executive Director

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Mrs. Mahakhurshid K. Byramjee heads the real estate division of the Casby Group. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Commerce & Economics from Mumbai University.

She has been in the construction business for over three decades. She leads the company’s activities of the construction of Gated Communities and individual bespoke bungalows. She also runs a commercial fruit orchard on the outskirts of Maharashtra.

She is also heavily involved in social activities which are carried out by the family trust. The trust’s activities include running an English Medium School for tribal children in rural Maharashtra and running a free Diagnostic Centre for the poor in Mumbai.

Rishad Byramjee

Non-Executive Director

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Mr. Rishad K. Byramjee is the Managing Director of the Casby Logistics Group of Companies since 2003. Established in 1857, the company is a market leader in Stevedoring and Port Services business in India. He has a Master of Science degree with a specialization in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from the UK. Under his leadership, the company expanded its Logistics operations from a regional scale to a pan-India scale within the business verticals of Air, Sea, Surface and Rail Cargo movement. He leads the diversification and expansion program at Casby and has successfully initiated new businesses such as Hazardous Liquid Bulk Transportation, Logistics Solution Design, Warehousing and Refrigerated solutions. He is also involved in the growth of the other Group offerings that include Construction & Real Estate Development, Digital Security & Surveillance, Telecommunications and Software Development.

Anjali Seth

Non-Executive Independent Director

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Ms. Anjali Seth has over 35 years’ experience as a professional lawyer advising and consulting with Banks, Financial Institutions, and large corporates.

She started her career as a litigation lawyer and then moved to the corporate sector. She has advised and consulted on a range of matters including M&As, Private Equity (PE) Investments, Stressed Assets, Non-Performing Assets (NPAs), recovery matters, Industrial/Employee Relations, Corporate Governance, Real Estate Negotiations, etc.

She has been associated in various positions with International Finance Corporation, Swaadhar Finserve, ANZ Grindlays Bank, Emmar Properties and Standard Chartered Bank.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in law from University of Delhi and a bachelor’s degree in arts (honours) from Meerut University.

Manmohan Shetty

Non-Executive Independent Director

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Mr. Manmohan Shetty is the Founder of Adlabs Films Limited, one of the largest entertainment corporations in India. As the founder of Adlabs Films, he has produced many box office hit movies, and movies which have received National Awards, and India's biggest and largest Film processing Laboratory. He is also the founder of Adlabs Entertainment Limited, which has created and built India's biggest theme and Amusement Park, with a water park and 5-star hotel on the Mumbai - Pune Expressway, by the well-known brand "Imagicaa". Currently, he is a director of Thrrill Park Limited, Cineport Entertainment Private Limited among others. He is one of the most significant people in the Indian Entertainment economy today and is seen as one of the key visionaries in the industry. He was a Council member of the Film & Television Producers Guild of India. He has established India’s first and World’s largest IMAX dome theatre. He has held key positions in media & entertainment-focused government bodies & federations including the post of Chairman of National Film Development Corporation.

Subhash Gundappa Kutte

Non-Executive Independent Director

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Mr. Subhash Kutte has been a Banker throughout his life. He had joined Ratnakar Bank in June 1980 and served the bank for thirty-four years, initially in an executive capacity across various departments, including MD & CEO, and in the last four years as its non-executive Chairman. He retired as the Chairman of RBL Bank Limited in the year 2014.

During his stewardship, the Bank has overcome enormous challenges which included the raising of Capital funds to the tune of 300 crores. He has an experience of four decades in the field of banking. He holds a bachelor's degree in commerce. Mr. Kutte acts as an “Advisor” to Ghatge Patil Industries Limited. He currently serves on the Board of several companies including Unity Small Finance Bank Limited, Synergy Green Industries Limited and Menon Pistons Limited.

R A Sankara Narayanan

Non-Executive Independent Director

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Mr. R. A. Sankara Narayanan, holds a post-graduate degree in Public Administration and has also done an MBA in Finance, CAIIB, PGDPM, PGDFM, DTIRM, DCP and BRM. During his reign as Executive Director of Bank of India starting from May 2015, he handled the treasury, corporate credit, recovery, risk management and compliance departments. He was also in charge of the departments like international banking, retail, HR, IT, planning and finance. He was appointed as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Vijaya Bank in September 2017. He had been designated as the MD and CEO of Canara Bank w.e.f. April 1, 2019, till his superannuation in January 2020. Mr. R A Sankara Narayanan has been on the Board of the South Indian Bank India Limited since October 15, 2020.

Business Leadership

Rajendra Naik

Investment Banking

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Rajendra has over 25 years of experience across multiple market cycles in Equity Capital Markets, Corporate Finance, Debt Structuring and Placements and Project Finance. He is a member of the team that founded the Centrum Group in 1996.

A Commerce Graduate, Rajendra has completed his Masters in Management Studies (MMS) from Sydenham Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai

Initial Public Offer for Canara Bank Rs 3850 mn
Initial Public Offer for DB Corp Rs 3842 mn
Initial Public Offer for Adlabs Entertainment Rs 3750 mn
Initial Public Offer for Union Bank Rs 2880 mn
Initial Public Offer for Uco Bank Rs 2400 mn
Qualified Institutional Placement of Indiabulls Financial Services Rs 12,820 mn
Qualified Institutional Placement of Syndicate Bank Rs 11,500 mn
Follow-on Public Offer for Allahabad Bank Rs 8,200 mn
Follow-on Public Offer for Punjab National Bank Rs 31,200 mn
Right Issue for Godrej Consumer Rs 3968 mn
Right Issue for Jyoti Structures Limited Rs 3,694 mn
Buy Back of Deccan Chronicle Rs 3500 mn
Bond Placement of IDBI Rs 41,500 mn
Sale of Adlabs Film Exhibition business to Reliance ADAG Rs 7,000 mn

Ranjan Ghosh

Banking

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Ranjan has close to 25 years of rich experience in the Banking & Financial Service Industry. He brings a wide array of professional and industry contacts, a deep understanding of Risk Management and Financial Markets and international best practices in Governance, Human Resources, etc.

Ranjan joins us from Standard Chartered Bank where he was the Global Head of Commercial Banks, Securities & Asset Financing sector and was responsible for the P&L of the bank’s Wholesale Banking franchise. He has held several Senior Management roles in Standard Chartered in India and Singapore. He was also associated with HSBC and CRISIL.

Ranjan has done his Masters of Business Administration from The University of Northern Iowa - USA and Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from Jadavpur University, Kolkata.

Sandeep Upadhyay

Infrastructure Advisory

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Sandeep Upadhyay joined Centrum Capital Limited in June 2008 and is currently serving as Managing Director of Infrastructure Practise at Centrum Capital Limited. As a senior Coverage Banker he is responsible for covering the Stressed asset resolution apart from leading Investment Banking initiatives across core sectors like Transportation, Logistics, Energy & Utilities space.

He is an alumnus from XLRI, Jamshedpur besides holding a Post Graduate Degree in Project Management specialising in Infrastructure sector alongwith a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Gujarat University. He has over sixteen years of extensive experience in raising Private Equity, Project Finance and advising Government & established private sector clients on M&A, Stressed asset resolution and Bidding initiatives.

Prior to Centrum, he worked with SBI Capital Markets and with IL&FS Group in financial advisory and fund raising domain on marquee Infrastructure Projects.

Rakshat Kapoor

Private Debt

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Rakshat Kapoor has over 18 years of experience in structured credit. Prior to joining Centrum, he was with Nomura Securities, Deutsche Bank’s structured credit investments and ICICI Bank’s structured finance team. Rakshat received his Chartered Accountancy from Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) from Delhi University.

Kapil Bagla

Credit Syndication, Debt restructuring and Advisory

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Kapil has more than 27 years of diverse experience in leadership positions across industries such as Financial Services & Media & Entertainment. He has worked in areas of Investment Banking, Corporate Advisory, Debt Capital Markets, Project Financing, Investment Management, Venture/ PE Investments, Business Management, Strategic and Project Planning and Finance. In his last assignment, he was managing the Family Office investments for the promoters of the Centrum Group.

As the erstwhile CEO of Adlabs Entertainment Ltd, Kapil was instrumental in creation of Adlabs Imagica – India’s first premier theme park destination. He was responsible for business management, strategic planning, project implementation, general management and corporate finance. He continues to serve on the Board of Adlabs. Prior to joining Adlabs Entertainment Limited he was working with Adlabs Films Limited as the Corporate Head – Strategic Planning and Acquisitions and Centrum Capital Limited as an Executive Director.

Kapil holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and Master’s degree in Management Studies with specialization in Finance.

Sandeep Nayak

Retail Broking

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Sandeep has over two decades of experience in capital markets covering Wealth Management, Equity Broking, Private Client Services, Portfolio Management and Distribution. He has previously worked with Kotak Securities and HSBC. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and a Cost Accountant.

Inderjit Camotra

Banking

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Inderjit is a Senior Banker with over 25 years of experience across India in leadership positions at Standard Chartered Bank, ANZ and Citibank. He graduated from I.I.T. Delhi and pursued his MBA from Clarkson University in New York. A Gold Medalist (Nagaland Education Board), he was earlier Executive Director with Centrum Financial Services Ltd.(Promoter Entity of Unity Bank), and has played a key role in transitioning the Company into a Bank.

Sandeep Das

Wealth

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Sandeep has with a proven track record of over 30 years with global private banks, creating effective strategies and driving business growth in India and overseas. He has held leadership positions with Barclays Private Bank, ANZ Grindlays and Standard Chartered Bank and has vast experience in M&A, strategy, planning and governance. Sandeep graduated in Economics from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi followed by an MBA from XLRI. He has attended Executive Management Programs at renowned institutions such as INSEAD, Said Business School (Oxford University) and Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta.

Jignesh Desai

Institutional Equities

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Jignesh has over 25 years of rich experience focused on Institutional Equities, having handled both Sales and Research functions. He has worked with organisations like Emkay Global, SBI Cap Securities, Religare Capital Markets, Networth Stock Broking & Systematix Group. Jignesh has an impressive track record of handling Mutual Funds, Insurance and FPI Relationships and successfully spearheading QIP's, Block deals and Fund Raising mandates. He has an MBA (Finance) from MET College, Mumbai.

Vivek Mannan

Housing

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Vivek has more than 24 years of rich experience in the Mortgage industry that includes setting up of Housing Finance Companies and launch of Retail mortgage in newer geographies. He has also worked with organizations like L&T Housing Finance, LIC Housing Finance Limited, Dewan Housing Finance Limited and Tata Capital Housing Finance Limited. Vivek has done his Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Management and Graduation from Delhi University.

Sriram Venkatasubramanian

Managing Director & CEO

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Mr. Sriram Venkatasubramanian has about 28 years of experience in Financial Services, Corporate Finance and Technology. He holds an engineering degree from BITS, Pilani and a PGDM from IIM, Bangalore.

He has been with Centrum Group for more than 17 years in multiple roles spanning Business, Strategy, Finance and Operations in Capital Markets, Wealth Management and Lending businesses. During his stint with Centrum, he has run the brokerage and distribution business, been part of the founding team of the Wealth business, led the divestment of the Foreign Exchange business to PE funds and subsequently to a strategic buyer, handled equity fundraise for the Housing business from Morgan Stanley. He played a strategic role in the entry of Centrum Group into Lending business including acquisitions made by CFSL and CML and also the Banking License and PMC acquisition.

Prior to Centrum, he has worked as the country manager of Aptuit Informatics, a software product company, Vice President in Esaar Group where he worked on Acquisitions and Financing and NBFC and Brokerage businesses of the Group.

Corporate Resources

Deepa Poncha

Human Resources

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A senior Human Resources professional with over 22 years of work experience across a breadth of functions within the Human Resources field, Deepa has held H R leadership positions across leading domestic and international Companies.

Raji Vishwanathan

Legal, Compliance & Secretarial

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Raji has over 33 years of experience, of which she has spent 16 years with Larsen & Tubro. Her last assignment was with L & T Financial Services where in she was serving as Group General Counsel. Additonially, through her career she has worked with Batliboi Environmental Engineering Ltd. and Brittania Industries. Raji has completed her Bachelor in Science – Micro Biology, Diploma in Business Management and Masters in Constitutional Law & International Law.

Shailendra Apte

Finance

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Shailendra has been associated with the Group since inception, and has played a vital role in its growth and expansion. As part of Chairman’s office, over the years he has been directly associated with each one of our businesses and also has a deep understanding of the nuances of each. He has also helped structure our new ventures and always played an important role in their launches etc.

Amitava Neogi

Advisor

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Amitava has about 33 years of rich experience in business, support & control functions primarily in Wealth Management & Financial Services sectors.

In his previous stints, he was associated with Julius Baer, Morgan Stanley India Financial Services, DSP Merrill Lynch Capital, DSP Merrill Lynch Trust Services, DSP Merrill Lynch, Lupin Laboratories & Voltas.

Amitava has completed his MMS in Finance from Mumbai University; Diploma in Business Finance from ICFAI, B.Com (Hons) from Delhi University.