People

Our team has extensive experience in conducting transactions across multiple industries and sizes. Senior team members bring in significant expertise in research and analysis, access to senior decision makers in private as well as government sectors, and a deep understanding of local markets.

Manish has over 18 years of experience in consulting, M&A advisory services, private equity, and general management. He has successfully introduced international companies into the Indian market particularly in Internal Security and Telecom Equipment.

His most recent assignment was with Microsoft Corporation where he headed the Telecommunications SBU in India. He was responsible for Microsoft's strategy, sales, technical solutions and team development in the rapidly growing telecom industry in India.

Prior to joining Microsoft, Manish was a senior strategy consultant in the Information, Communications, and Entertainment practice at Mercer Management Consulting (now Oliver Wyman) in Boston. He has led transaction due-diligence of over $500M and completed transactions of over $200M. Manish has also worked as a senior policy analyst at The WEFA Group (now part of McGraw Hill-DRI).

He holds a BA (Hons with First Division) in Economics from Hindu College and an MA in Economics from Tufts University.

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Rishi has over 18 years of business consulting, corporate finance and venture capital experience in India. He was an investment principal with Infinity India Venture Fund - India's first institutionalized early stage venture fund, where his investments generated returns over 60% IRR. Some of his investments and Board memberships include Indiabulls Financial Services, ETI Travel & Technologies and Cognosys Software.

Prior to Infinity, he was a Senior Manager with the Business Consulting Practice of Arthur Andersen in India where he assisted several multinational clients with their market entry strategies, joint venture and regulatory consulting. Rishi also led transaction due diligence reviews for companies in the software services, consumer goods, financial services, internet and communications infrastructure sectors. He led and concluded over $300 million of transactions for several venture funds and corporate investors in 1999-2000 and had advised various new economy initiatives as a member of Arthur Andersen EMEIA "New Economy" Task Force, and Investment Committee Member for government venture funds in UP and Rajasthan.

Rishi is a member of The Indus Entrepreneurs, New Delhi, the Indian Venture Capital Association and a founding member of the Band of Angels in India. He holds a BA (Hons with First Division) in Economics from Hindu College and is qualified Chartered Accountant.

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Nihal has more than 25 years experience in Corporate Banking, Wealth Management and Strategic Relationship Management in Delhi, Abu Dhabi and Dubai where he managed high net-worth clients, including Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Abu Dhabi Drilling Company, private accounts of His Highness in the UAE. He was responsible for trade finance and fund management with UNB. Prior to that he worked with ANZ Grindlays Bank, Dubai where he was responsible for loan syndication. Nihal represented the lead bank in the initial public offer for Emaar Properties, a major global project developer.

He started his career with United States Foreign Commercial Services, Delhi, a subsidiary of US Department of Commerce. In that role, he assisted in the identification of joint venture opportunities and formulation of business proposals for setting up for Indo-American ventures.

Capitalizing on his varied experience in corporate banking and his multifaceted expertise in relationship management, Nihal has been a key facilitator in the setting up of public/private partnership models in India. He has a wide network of high-level relationships in private and public sectors. His assignments have included conceptualizing and implementing solutions for telecom operators. Presently he manages relationships with one of India's largest domestic financial institutions.

Nihal is a National Champion in roller skating and an avid cross-country horse rider and has an MBA from Aligarh University.

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Richa has significant experience in international development, including with the UN system, the World Bank and Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She specializes in conducting and coordinating research across sectors including internal security, democratic governance, post conflict rehabilitation, political participation, and social and economic development.

Richa has significant experience in leading complex negotiations in multi-agency government agreements as well as mediating and negotiating with diverse stakeholders such as governments, civil society institutions and communities. In addition to 14 years’ experience in international development, Richa has seven years’ management experience in the print media industry, having specialized in news syndication, licensing and content formulation.

Richa holds an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School where she was Edward S. Mason Fellow, Galbraith Scholar and Ash Institute for Democracy Fellow. She is currently a Fellow at the Ash Institute for Democracy at the Harvard Kennedy School. She received her BA (Hons with First Division) Economics from the Hindu College, University of Delhi.

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Manish brings a rich experience of more than 20 years in various aspects of finance, corporate strategy, private equity and IPO fund-raising, M&A, and corporate governance.

He spent nine years at Archies Limited, where he also launched the company’s IPO and created an institutional investor base that resulted in increasing the company’s market capitalization by 10x. He was part of top management team responsible for formulating all the strategies.

He also spent 5 years at Times Internet Limited and was responsible for fund raising through PE and M&A from conception to closing. He was instrumental in raising capital from Sequoia Capital.

Most recently he was CFO at Reverse Logistics Company where he was involved with the founder from the inception stage of the company. He was also involved in Series A and Series B funding of the company.

Manish is a commerce graduate and a member of The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (CS) and The Institute of Cost & Works Accountants of India (ICWA).

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Shailendra brings more than 30 years of leadership and operational experience in a variety of industries.

He started his career in the pharmaceuticals industry in the early 1980's. His entrepreneurial instincts led him to co-found a pharmaceutical formulations company in 1983. He managed and grew his business for almost 2 decades and exited in 2000.

Over the past 10 years he has advised several domestic and international companies in Healthcare, Power, Minerals, Metals & Mining, Oil & Gas, Financial Services and Chemicals. He brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the areas of financing and managing cross-border relationships such as joint-ventures, strategic partnerships, etc.

Shailendra completed his schooling from the Sherwood College, Nainital before obtaining a B.Sc (Chemistry) from Lucknow University. He obtained his MBA from Lucknow University.

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PVSM, AVSM & BAR, D Litt, FIMA

Lt. Gen Mohan Bhandari has over four decades of experience in National Security & Strategic Planning with the Indian Armed Forces. A prolific writer & creative defence strategist, he is widely acclaimed as the 'Thinking General', who possesses exceptional communication skills. He is a veteran of 1971 Indo-Pak War, Kargil Operations in 1999 where he was Indian Army's face to National & International media. He also has immense experience in Low & High Intensity Conflict Operations. As Chief of Staff of Central Army, he handled complex situations relating to operations, disaster mitigation/management, emergency readiness, high alert response planning & administration & logistics of the lodger command.

Dr Bhandari was also the Chairman of Uttarakhand Public Service Commission. Presently he serves on the advisory boards of a number of companies on matters related to national security & strategic management of high value assets.

A PhD & D Litt, he was honoured with a Fellowship by the All India Management Association for his contribution in the fields of management. He obtained his Masters in Defence and Strategic Studies from the University of Chennai. He also holds Post Graduate Diplomas in Personnel Management & Industrial Relations, Business Management, Labour Law & in Training & Development (T & D). He was also nominated for an International Fellowship at the US War College at Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania.

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Mr. Padhi is the former Security Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat, the Prime Minister's Office. Prior to his appointment in 2005 he was Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau of India.

He joined the Indian Police Service in 1969 as Assistant Superintendent of Police. He was selected by the elite corps of the Intelligence Bureau in 1981 to lead critical analytical and operational desks. He has had an illustrious career as a civil servant with several notable assignments including the East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) war effort in 1971, managing insurgencies in the North-East corridor of India, and most notably, his expertise in global Islamic affairs.

As Security Secretary he managed the National Crisis Management Group and was a member of the Security Core Group in addition to being in charge of key regional and global security related agencies and issues.

Mr. Padhi holds a BA (Hons) in Economics from St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi. He has completed the Police Command Course, UK, and holds a Masters in Strategic Studies from National Defence College. He is a highly decorated I.P.S. officer and has received:

• President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service, 1996
• Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service, 1986
• Visesh Seva Medal with Bar, 1987
• Visesh Seva Medal, 1983
• Sangram Medal for War Service, 1972

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Mr. Misra is a former Member Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC) and Settlement Commission. At the CBEC he devised and implemented Customs, Central Excise & Service Tax related policies. Revenue Intelligence & Anti-Evasion were also within his purview. At the Settlement Commission he was responsible for resolving litigation disputes in customs & excise. He has represented India at the World Customs Organisation (WCO) at Brussels and has also served as the U.N. expert in Revenue Audit in Tanzania. 

Mr. Misra joined the Indian Revenue Service (I.R.S.) in 1967. Over his 40 year career he has served as Commissioner Customs, Chief Vigilance Officer (CBEC) & Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance. He has also been appointed as Director (Vigilance) at the Department of Personnel and Training, Member (Finance) at the Delhi Development Authority & Development Commissioner at the Noida Special Economic Zone (NSEZ) & Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

He holds an M.Sc in Physics from Lucknow, an M.Sc in Fiscal Studies from University of Bath (UK) & an LL.B from University of Delhi.

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