Amitabh Chaudhry of HDFC Life appointed CEO & MD of Axis Bank

Ending the speculation around the appointment of its next head once Shikha Sharma demits office, Axis BankNSE 1.15 % today chose Amitabh Chaudhry, 54, as the next CEO. 

Chaudhry, who is currently the managing director of HDFC LifeNSE -0.54 % was widely speculated to take over as the next boss at Axis. 

He will take over as MD & CEO for 3 years from January 1, 2019 and will remian in office till December 31, 2021. 

"We wish to inform you that the Board of Directors (the Board) of the Bank at its meeting held today has taken on record the approval granted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to the appointment of Shri Amitabh Chaudhry as the Managing Director & CEO of the Bank. for a period of 3 years. with effect from 1 January, 2019 up to 31 December, 2021 (both days inclusive) and the terms and conditions relating to the said appointment, including remuneration," Axis Bank said in a notice to the BSE. 

The Axis board will now meet to approve the appointment of Chaudhry as additional director. 

"After an extensive search, my fellow directors and I are pleased to welcome Amitabh as the Bank's MD & CEO. Amitabh has a proven track record and is



well-equipped to lead Axis Bank in pursuing its growth ambitions balanced with a strong emphasis on risk and compliance management," said Sanjiv Misra, chairman, Axis Bank. 

Chaudhry has been with HDFC Standard Life since January 2010 and is widely credited for the insurance company's sucessful IPO earlier this year. 

He started his career in the corporate banking with Bank of America in 1987, where before moving to CALYON Bank as its managing director, head south east Asian investment banking and Head technology investment banking. 

He also worked for Infosys BPO between 2003 and 2006. He is a B. Tech in (Electronic & Electricals) from the Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani and is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. 

"I would like to thank the RBI and the Axis Bank Board for the privilege and honor given to me to lead this great institution. Axis Bank is amongst the leading private sector banks in the country. Together, with the support of the Board and the Axis team, I am confident of continuing the bank's remarkable journey these past 25 years and to contribute to its future growth," Chaudhry said in a press release.