Shanti heads the Consumer Banking business at Kotak Mahindra Bank since April 2014 and is focused on growing customer acquisition, cross-sell and digital adoption across physical and digital channels and as an integrated Consumer Banking franchise across asset and liability products. Shanti is part of the Bank’s Group Management Council that drives and oversees the Kotak Mahindra Group’s growth charter. Shanti is associated with the Group for over 29 years and has been responsible for successfully setting up and running several business units.

Under Shanti’s leadership, the consumer banking business continues to record the fastest pace of customer acquisition and savings account growth in the Indian banking industry. Shanti oversaw the integration of ING Vysya Bank’s retail bank with Kotak’s consumer banking operations, and the emphasis is on realising business synergies on the expanded customer base via cross-selling opportunities. In addition, the consumer banking business is driving its digital agenda across customer acquisition, customer adoption of banking, payments & e-commerce transactions, enhancing customer experience and deepening engagement.

Prior to this, Shanti was President – Corporate & Investment Banking for 11 years till April 2014, where she was responsible for ensuring delivery of comprehensive advisory & financial solutions to leading Indian Corporates, Public Sector Undertakings, Financial Institutions, Multinationals and the Government. Shanti was also Executive Director and CEO of Kotak Investment Banking earlier and, along with her team, steered the firm to a position of market leadership. She established a franchise recognised for executing innovative deals, including pioneering the first book-built IPO in India, which ushered global standards in the Indian capital markets. Shanti has rich and varied experience across retail and wholesale banking.

Before joining Kotak Mahindra Group, Shanti had a short stint with Bank of Nova Scotia – the Canadian International Bank, with their corporate banking and treasury division.

Shanti is on the board of Indian Institute of Management – Bangalore (IIM-B).

Business Today, one of India’s leading business magazines, has recognised Shanti as one of the ‘Most Powerful Women in Indian Business’ from 2013-2017, 2019 and 2020. Fortune India has featured Shanti as one of the top 50 Most Powerful Women in Business in India from 2016-2020. Shanti received the “CA Business Leader” award by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India in the “Large Corporate – BFSI” category in 2020 and was also named “CA Woman Business Leader” in 2013. Further, the Ladies’ Wing of the IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry recognised Shanti as “Woman of the Year” 2013-14 in Banking and Financial Services.

Shanti graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Sydenham College, University of Mumbai, and has completed her Chartered Accountancy and Cost and Works Accountancy.

Shanti is a philanthropist at heart and has been supporting several NGOs. She is a regular participant at various marathons in the country, and has raised pledges for causes close to her heart through Mumbai Marathon for the past several years. She was recognised as the Highest Individual Woman Pledge Raiser in 2011 and 2016, and Second Highest Individual Pledge Raiser in the Corporate Challenge category in 2013, 2014 and 2015. She has also been recognised as the highest fundraising change champion for SOPAN at the Mumbai Marathon 2017, and as a Change Icon at the Mumbai Marathon 2018, 2019 and 2020.