Board of Directors

Birla Sun Life Trustee Company Pvt Ltd

Mr. Prafull Anubhai (Independent Director)

72 years / B.Com,B.Sc.(Econ.) from London School of Economics

He is a management consultant and is associated with educational, research and cultural institutions like Indian Institute of Management (IIMA), Ahmedabad Education Society (AES), Centre for Science Technology and Policy (CSTEP), ATIRA, Saptak (An Indian Classical Music organization), etc. He has done his B.Sc.(Econ.) from the London School of Economics and attended PMD at Harvard Business School. He has 31 years of experience in top management of Textile and other businesses. Presently he is a Director in companies like Unichem Laboratories Limited, Torrent Cables Ltd., The EMSAF – Mauritius (The Emerging Markets South Asia Fund), Vardhman Textiles Limited etc.

Mr. Gurcharan Das (Independent Director)

66 years / Graduated with honors from Harvard University and later attended Harvard Business School (AMP)

Gurcharan Das is an author and a management consultant. He advises a number of companies on global corporate strategy. He was CEO, Procter & Gamble India from 1985 to 1992. Between 1989 and 1992, he was Vice President, P&G Far East and in 1992, he served as Vice President & Managing Director, Procter & Gamble Worldwide, responsible for strategic planning. Prior to P&G, he was Chairman and Managing Director of Richardson Hindustan Limited from 1981 to 1985. In 1995, after a 30-year career in 6 countries, he took early retirement to become an author. He is on a number of boards, including Ranbaxy, Citibank, Gillette, Birla Sun Life, SKS Microfinance, Crest Animation, and ChrysCapital. He is the author of the international bestseller, India Unbound

Dr. V.Arunachalam (Independent Director)

74 years M.SC., PhD (Wales), D. Eng. (HC), D.Sc. (HC), FR Eng. (U.K,), F.N.A.E., F.N.A., F.A.Sc.

A recipient of Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan from President of India and a winner of Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Engineering Science. Dr. Arunachalam has made outstanding contribution in engineering and technology in the country. He was the Chairman of two public sector corporations and secretary in Government of India for over a decade and headed major technological programmes encompassing engineering and management. He is presently Chairman of CSTEP, a Bangalore based section 25 corporation dedicated to the pursuit of engineering and policy studies. He is also a distinguished service professor at Carnegie Mellon University in the US and Honorary Professor of Engineering at University of Warwick in U.K. He recently co-edited a major issue on Global Energy Technologies for The Materials Research Society.

Mr. Suresh Talwar (Associate Director)

72 years / B.Com., LL.B., Solicitor & Advocate

He is now a partner of Talwar, Thakore & Associates with effect from 1st January, 2007. Earlier, he was a partner of Crawford Bayley & Co., till 31st March, 2006. His association with Crawford Bayley & Co., as a Special Advisor ended on 31st December, 2006.

He acts as a legal counsel to numerous Indian companies, multinational corporations, Indian and foreign banks
He specializes in Corporate Law (Joint Venture and Companies Company law, Acquisitions, mergers takeover and restructuring, Privatisation, Public Issues, Drafting of promoters and Shareholder Agreements, Drafting of foreign financial and Technical, Collaboration Agreements.) Corporate Tax (Indian tax for Indian companies, Indian tax for foreign companies operating in India via Joint Venture Agreements or project offices, Double Tax Treaties) Foreign Exchange Laws (including the erstwhile Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973 and the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 which replaces the former), Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Policies Act, International Issue of Securities by Indian Companies;(Advising on issue of GDRs and ADRs, Advising International Underwriters, Advising Indian Companies on applicable foreign laws.), Commercial Documentation and contracts, Power Projects.

Besides this, he holds directorships in several eminent public and private companies.

Mr. B.N.Puranmalka (Associate Director)

74 years / F.C.A., F.C.S., LL.B.

He has many years of experience in implementation and running of Viscose Staple Fibre plant at Nagda (M.P.), Fertiliser (Urea) in U.P., Copper Smelter in Gujarat and Export Division of Grasim in Delhi. He looked after the development of Captive Power Plants and has been a Director of the Financial Services for many years.

Birla Sun Life Asset Management Company Ltd

Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla (Associate Director)

44 years / C.A., M.B.A. (London Business School)

Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla (44) is the Chairman of the US $ 35 billion multinational Aditya Birla Group, which operates in 36 countries across 6 continents. Over 60% of its revenues flow from its operations outside India.

Mr. Birla chairs the Boards of all of the Group's major companies in India and globally. Among its clutch of companies globally feature Novelis, Columbian Chemicals, Aditya Birla Minerals, Aditya Birla Chemicals, Thai Carbon Black and Alexandria Carbon Black among others. In India, he chairs the Boards of Hindalco, Grasim, Aditya Birla Nuvo, UltraTech, Idea, Aditya Birla Financial Services and Aditya Birla Retail.

The Group's businesses are spread across a swath of industries. These include aluminium, copper, cement, textiles (pulp, fibre, yarn, fabric and branded apparel), carbon black, insulators, natural resources, power, agribusiness, telecommunications, financial services, IT/ITeS, retail and trading.

Business record

Mr. Birla took over as Chairman of the Group in 1995, at the age of 28, after the untimely demise of his father. As Chairman, Mr. Birla has taken the Aditya Birla Group to an altogether higher growth trajectory. In the 17 years that he has been at the helm of the Group, he has accelerated growth, built a meritocracy and enhanced stakeholder value.

In the process he has raised the Group's turnover from US$ 2 billion in 1995, to US$ 35 billion today. Mr. Birla has restructured the businesses to emerge as a global/national leader in the sectors in which the Group operates. He has made 22 acquisitions in 17 years in India and globally, the highest by an Indian multinational in India.

The acquisition of Novelis, a global metals major, in 2007, the second largest acquisition ever by an Indian company, led to a new found respect for Indian companies and stoked a higher level of interest in the country as well. Recently, the acquisition of Columbian Chemicals, a US based company and the world's 3rd largest carbon black manufacturer positioned the Group as the No. 1 player in this sector, given its own sizeable carbon black operations today. Likewise, the acquisition of Domsjö Fabriker, a leading Swedish speciality pulp manufacturer enables the Group's Pulp and Fibre business to further consolidate its global position.

Besides these, over the years Mr. Birla has acquired manufacturing plants in Canada, China, Indonesia, plantations in Laos, and mines in Australia, set up new plants in Egypt, Thailand and China. Alongside, he has expanded capacities in all of the Group's manufacturing units.

In India as well, he has made major acquisitions, the most notable being the Cement division of Larsen & Toubro, Indal from Alcan, Madura Garments from Coats Viyella and the Chlor Alkali division of Kanoria Chemicals.

Under his stewardship, the Aditya Birla Group enjoys a position of leadership in all the major sectors in which it operates. Over the years, Mr. Birla has built a highly successful meritocratic organization, anchored by an extraordinary force of 133,000 employees belonging to 42 different nationalities.

In key responsible positions on various regulatory bodies

Mr. Birla holds several key positions on various regulatory and professional Boards. He is a Director on the Central Board of Directors of the Reserve Bank of India. Earlier, he was Chairman of the Advisory Committee constituted by the Ministry of Company Affairs and also served on The Prime Minister of India's Advisory Council on Trade and Industry.

As the Chairman of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Committee on Corporate Governance, he authored the First Report on Corporate Governance titled "Report of the Kumar Mangalam Birla Committee on Corporate Governance". Its recommendations were path breaking and became the basis of corporate governance norms. Furthermore, as the Convener of the Prime Minister's Task Force on Administrative and Legal Simplifications, the extensive recommendations made by him in his report, have been implemented in totality. Mr. Birla also served as Chairman of SEBI's committee on Insider Trading which formulated Corporate Governance principles for Indian corporates

He is on the National Council of the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Apex Advisory Council of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India.

On the Board of Educational Institutions

Mr. Birla is deeply engaged with Educational Institutions. He is the Chancellor, of the renowned Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS), with campuses in Pilani, Goa, Hyderabad and Dubai.

He is a Director of the G. D. Birla Medical Research & Education Foundation.

He serves on the London Business School's Asia Pacific Advisory Board and is a Honorary Fellow of the London Business School.

Accolades conferred on Mr. Birla

Mr. Birla has won recognition for his exemplary contribution to leadership processes and institution/systems building. A selective list:

The Degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) in recognition of his role in "pioneering great Engineering products involving Multi-disciplinary Engineering thought processes in the Country" by the Visvesvaraya Technological University, Karnataka, 2012
NASSCOM's 'Global Business Leader Award' 2012.
CNBC-TV18 India Business Leader Award 2012 for "Taking India Abroad",
"GQ Business Leader of the Year Award - 2011" from Condé Nast India Pvt. Ltd., an affiliate of Condé Nast Global.
"CNN-IBN Indian of the Year 2010 – Business", "for being the most outstanding business person and making a success out of most businesses including the sunrise sector", 2010.
The All India Management Association's (AIMA), Managing India Awards 2010 "Business Leader of the Year", 2010.
The AIMA – "JRD Tata Corporate Leadership Award", 2008.
The Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris causa) in "recognition of his invaluable contribution in the field of Business Administration" by the G. D. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, 2008.
"For the development of technology and also for the involvement in the field of Industries in bringing the country at par with other countries in the field of Industries", the SRM University in Tamil Nadu conferred the Degree of Doctor of Literature, 2008.
The Asia Pacific Global HR Excellence – "Exemplary Leader" Award, 2007.
"The Global Indian Leader of the Year" by NDTV Profit in their Business Leader Awards category, 2007.
The Lakshmipat Singhania – IIM, Lucknow "National Leadership Award, Business Leader", 2006
Represented India at the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Award in Monte Carlo, Monaco in June 2006, where he was inducted as a "Member of the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year Academy".
"The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year" Award, 2005.
"Young Super Performer in the CEO Category" by Business Today, 2005.
Chosen by the World Economic Forum (Davos) as one of the "Young Global Leaders", 2004.
"The D. Litt (honoris Causa) Degree" by The Banaras Hindu University, 2004.
"Honorary Fellowship" by the All India Management Association, 2004.
"The Business Leader of the Year", The Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence 2002-2003.
"Business Man of the Year-2003" by Business India.
The Rajiv Gandhi Award for "Business Excellence and his contribution to the country" by the Mumbai Pradesh Youth Congress, 2001.
The National HRD Network, "The Outstanding Business Man of the Year", 2001.
The Institute of Directors' "Golden Peacock National Award for Business Leadership", 2001.
Hindustan Times, "The Businessman of the Year", 2001.
The Bombay Management Association – "The Management Man of the Year 1999-2000".
"Among the 10 super Stars of Corporate Finance" – Global Finance, 1998.
"Among the top 10 of India's most admired and respected CEOs and the top CEO of the coming millennium", Business World, 1998.

Beyond business: Reaching out to the marginalized sections of society

A firm practitioner of the trusteeship concept, Mr. Birla has institutionalized the concept of caring and giving at the Aditya Birla Group. With his mandate, the Group is involved in meaningful welfare driven activities that distinctively impact the quality of life of the weaker sections of society, surrounding hundreds of villages that are among the poorest in India, Thailand, Philippines and Egypt.

In India, the Group is engaged in 3,000 villages, reaching out to 7 million people annually and making a difference to their lives through meticulously conceived projects focusing on health care, education, sustainable livelihood, infrastructure and social causes. For instance, the Group runs 42 schools which provide quality education to 45,000 children. Of these, over 18,000 children receive free education. Additionally, over a 100,000 youngsters benefit from bridge educational programmes and vocational training.

Educational background

A Commerce Graduate from the Bombay University, Mr. Birla is a Chartered Accountant. He earned an MBA from the London Business School.

Personal details

Born June 14, 1967, in Kolkata, Mr. Birla was raised in Mumbai. Mr. Birla and his wife, Mrs. Neerja Birla have three children, Ananyashree, Aryaman Vikram and Advaitesha.

Mr. Ajay Srinivasan (Associate Director)

46 years / B.A. Economics (Hons.), PGDM, IIM -Ahmedabad

He has worked as Chief Executive, Fund Management, Asia for Prudential Corporation Asia for 7 years. Earlier he was Managing Director of Prudential ICICI Asset Management Co. ltd. He has also worked with ITC Threadneedle AMC Ltd as Deputy Chief Executive handling day to day activities.

Mr. Pankaj Razdan (Associate Director)

42 years / B.Tech (Electronics), B.SC (Electronics)

Mr. Razdan is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer – Financial Services of the Aditya Birla Management Corporation Private Limited. He has rich experience and knowledge in Sales, Distribution and Marketing. Prior to this, he was the Managing Director in Prudential ICICI Asset Management Co. Ltd

Mr. Donald Stewart (Associate Director & Chairman)

63 years / FIA, FCIA

He is the CEO of Sun Life Financial He has held positions of increasing responsibility including head of Information Technology at Sun Life Financial and Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Sun Life Trust

Mr. Kevin Strain (Associate Director)

45 yrs / Master of Accounting, University of Waterloo. B.A. (Hons.), Accounting, University of Waterloo.

Mr. Kevin Strain is President, Sun Life Financial Asia. In this role, Mr. Strain is responsible for Sun Life's interests in Asia, including identifying opportunities for growth in the region and managing the Company's relations with its partners. Mr. Strain was appointed to this role effective April 2012, and is based in Sun Life's Asia Regional Office in Hong Kong.

Mr. Strain has significant insurance and leadership experience in both individual and group businesses and in managing finance functions. From 2007 to 2012, he was Senior Vice-President of Sun Life's Individual Insurance and Investments division in Canada, responsible for the creation and delivery of insurance, health and wealth management products and solutions nationwide. This included managing an expansive distribution organization encompassing Sun Life's career sales force, the largest in Canada, and third-party distributors.

In earlier roles, Mr. Strain was Vice-President of Investor Relations in Sun Life's corporate office and held senior finance positions in the Company's Canadian operations. He joined Sun Life in 2002 as part of its acquisition of the Clarica Life Insurance Company, where he had served in finance and customer-focused roles before being appointed head of Clarica's Canadian pension and group savings division. He has also held finance positions at London Life and Ernst & Young. He also serves on the Advisory Council for the University's School of Accounting and Finance.

Mr. Sandeep Asthana (Associate Director)

43 years / B. Tech from IIT Mumbai, MBA from IIM Lucknow.

He is the Country Head – India, at Sun Life Financial Inc. and in this role he is responsible for the Sun Life's India Offices. Prior to this, as the India Representative of RGA Reinsurance Co., India Liaison Office, and later as the Managing Director of RGA Services (I) Pvt. Ltd., he was in charge of building RGA's brand and business in India. He was RGA's first Indian hire and helped them build their business in India. He has also worked with Zurich Risk Management Services Pvt. Ltd. from April 2000 to Dec 2002 and was responsible for putting together entry plans for life insurance and non-life insurance by Zurich Financial Services. Prior to this, he has worked with Unit Trust of India from June 1993 to April 2000, in various capacities and has successfully led the research and planning efforts of the Unit Trust of India during his tenure with them.

Mr. N.N.Jambusaria (Independent Director)

76 years / M. Com, Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries, London. F.A.S.I. (Fellow of the Actuarial Society of India)

Experience of 38 years in the Life Insurance Industry. He was the Chairman of LIC India. He has a vast experience in the fields of Finance, Investment of the funds of LIC, Marketing, Computer-applications in life insurance, Actuarial work and General Management.

Mr. S.S. Raman (Independent Director)

73 years / B.Com (Hons.), C.A., Post Graduate in Business Management

He has worked in the Indian Revenue Service Class I for 5yrs. He has also been the tax advisor and consultant and has handled taxation as well as, foreign exchange matters for IBM, in Tokyo and India and for Tata Engineering and Locomotive Co. Ltd., in Mumbai. He has also been a Consultant on Tax matters with A.F. Ferguson & Co. and Thakur Viadyanath Aiyar & Co..He has been a member of the Tax Committies and has experience in Tax Planning.

Mr. N.C.Singhal (Independent Director)

73 years / Postgraduate in Economics, Statistics and Administration.
He has received professional education from institutes like IIM (Ahmedabad, Calcutta), IIT Kanpur, and ISI Calcutta

He was the founder Chief Executive Officer, designated as the Vice-Chairman & Managing Director of the erstwhile SCICI Limited. Earlier he was senior executive for ICICI, responsible as Head of ICICI's northern regional office in New Delhi, and Chief of the Projects Department at its corporate office in Bombay He has also been on the Board of Directors of ICICI Limited He has also worked with ONGC as the staff officer to the Chairman among other posts. The Govt. of India, as a part of World Bank programme, had also deputed him as a Banking Expert to IDB of Afghanistan. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the International Maritime Bureau, London, and the Commission on Maritime Transport of the International Chamber of Commerce, Paris. He was awarded the United Nations Development Programme Fellowship for advanced studies in the field of project formulation and evaluation, with special reference to petroleum industry, at the National Research Institutions of the erstwhile USSR, in Moscow and St. Petersburg

Mr. Bobby Parikh (Independent Director)

47 years / B.Com, C.A.

Mr. Bobby Parikh is the co-founder and the Chief Mentor of BMR Advisors, a professional services firm offering a range of Tax, Risk and M&A advisory for businesses of all sizes, at the national and international levels. Mr. Parikh leads the Financial Services practice of BMR Advisors. He has extensively advised, over the past 20 years, including numerous financial services sector players and is credited for developing and implementing the first offshore fund structure to invest in India from Mauritius. Prior to founding BMR Advisors, Mr. Parikh led the Financial Services practice at Messrs. Arthur Andersen and at Messrs. Ernst & Young.

Mr. R Vaidyanathan (Independent Director)

58 years / M. Stat, PhD in Finance

R. Vaidyanathan is Professor of Finance and Control and UTI Chair Professor in the area of Capital Markets. He is Chairperson for the Centre for Capital Market and Risk Management (CCMR) at IIMB. He is a National Fellow of ICSSR. Prof. Vaidyanathan is a member of the "Advisory Committee" on Secondary Markets of the Security Exchange Board of India (SEBI). He is the member of Technical Committee on Market intelligence of SEBI. He was a member of the expert committee (L.C. Gupta committee) on derivative trading appointed by SEBI. He has been appointed as a trustee for the New Pension System [NPS] by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority of India [PFRDA]

Board of Directors

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