Meet the stalwarts driving PL forward

Amisha Vora owns and runs PL Group. She is one of the leading women entrepreneurs in India’s financial services sector. She is a Chartered Accountant by qualification and an equity market expert by profession, with experience spanning over 35 years.

Her association with PL began in 2000 as the VP – FII Sales. In 2006, she achieved her first milestone by becoming the Joint MD of the Group, and acquired a 24% equity stake. Since then, she has risen the ranks to become the Chairperson and Managing Director, and now holds 96% stake in the PL Group. Under her leadership, the PL Group received the prestigious Jamnalal Bajaj Fair Business Practices Award in 2024 and was honoured as one of the Best BFSI brands by the Economic Times three times consecutively.

Amisha is also a significant contributor to industry committees, serving as a member of the CII Capital Markets Committee for the past 5 years and as a member of the Association of Portfolio Managers of India (APMI) board. She is also an Independent Director on the board of Prince Pipes and Fittings Limited.

She has also won several prestigious awards, including the Business Woman of the Year from The Economic Times in 2023, the Rashtriya Udyog Ratan Award for Corporate Leadership, and the Annual Impact Creator Award by the Governor’s office & Government of Maharashtra in 2021.

She has also received the Women Empowerment Principles Leadership Award by Asia One and United Nations Global Compact, UAE, and has been recognised as one of Asia’s Most Admired Business Leaders at the Asia-Pacific Leadership Conclave. She was also regarded as one of the Top 100 Women in Finance, 2020 by Association of International Wealth Management of India (AIWMI).

Dhiren Sheth has been associated with the PL Group for over 4 decades. He now serves in a non – executive capacity on the boards of the PL Group.

He brings a unique blend of business and technological expertise. Dhiren was the founding member of the Technology committee of the BSE. He has also played a pivotal role in the design and implementation of BOLT trading and CDSL depository system. 

At PL, Dhiren has been instrumental in initiating several technological initiatives that have significantly enhanced the client experience with PL’s products and services. 

Under his leadership, PL became the first financial services organisation to undergo computerisation, paving the way for smoother, more transparent, effective, and reliable transactions. With an illustrious career spanning more than 40 years, he continues to demonstrate how technology and robust systems can revolutionise the financial services landscape.

He holds a BE (Hons) Electronics degree from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani).

Rajeev Dalal is the Chairman of the board of the investment banking arm of PL and also serves as a non – executive director on the boards of PL’s NBFC and corporate advisory arms.

He has extensive work experience spanning 35+ years, and is a formidable name in the investment banking and corporate finance domain.

During this period, he has been an advisor on 100+ mergers & acquisition transactions and private equity deals across various sectors. He has also advised Indian corporates on 100+ capital market transactions ranging from IPOs, follow-on offers, rights issues, buybacks and delisting, etc.

He joined Ernst & Young in 2002 as a Transactions Partner and went on to hold a leadership position in EY in the two decades that he spent there. Currently, he is also an Independent Director on the board of Eris Lifesciences Ltd, a publicly traded pharmaceuticals company.

He is also a member of the committee appointed by the SEBI, for improving disclosure standards in public documents of corporates for capital issues.

Besides being a member of The Institute of Company Secretaries of India, Rajeev also holds a Law and Commerce degree from Mumbai University

Siddharth Vora is the Head of Quantitative Investment Strategies and Fund Manager of the Group’s Asset Management business.

He spearheaded PL’s foray into quantitative asset management and research and is one of the most definitive voices on quant investing in India.

He is one of India’s youngest and most innovative fund managers, having introduced two path – breaking investment strategies – MADP and AQUA. Multi – Asset Dynamic Portfolio (MADP) is India’s 1st multi – asset PMS that deploys quantitative technology for asset allocation and AQUA, (Adaptive; Quantitative; Unbiased; Alpha) is India’s 1st style agnostic and style adaptive investment strategy. Before his move to the funds management business within the group, Siddharth had also worked in the institutional research, investment strategy and investment advisory verticals in PL.

Siddharth has also developed his proprietary investment frameworks and quantitative meters and strategies. The 6F framework for MADP and the 6S framework for AQUA serve as the core pillars of PL’s systematic investment strategies.

He is a Chartered Accountant and a CFA and has completed his M.Sc. in Management for Business Excellence with a double diploma in World Politics from the University of Warwick.

He has been awarded as one of the most influential young leaders in India by Asia One in 2022.

Vimal Jain serves of the board of the NBFC arm of PL in a non – executive capacity. He has over 40 years of experience in the areas of auditing, financial consulting, debt fund raising, company law and income tax matters.

He has been the statutory auditor for reputed public sector units like Air India Limited, Indian Airlines Limited, MTNL, Oil and Natural Gas Cooperation Limited, Container Corporation of India Limited, National Fertilizer Limited and Engineer India Limited. He has been the statutory auditor for public sector banks like Canara Bank, Union Bank of India, National Housing Bank, among others.

Sandip Raichura is the CEO of the retail and distribution business of PL. He has over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry and has garnered valuable experience across broking, distribution, wealth and research. He holds all seventeen capital-market related NISM certifications.

Since joining PL in 2011, he has managed to profitably grow the retail broking and distribution business multifold and scaled PL’s network pan India.

He has completed the Executive Education Programme from IIM Bangalore with a specialization in Strategy and General Management. He also holds a MA in Economics from Delhi School of Economics and Bachelors in Commerce from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi.

Parag Paigankar brings with him over 34 years of extensive expertise in diverse financial domains. This spans corporate finance, loans against securities, credit risk appraisal & monitoring, corporate financial debt restructuring, and corporate advisory services.

He joined PL in 2007 and since 2009 has been leading PL Financial Services Pvt. Ltd, the NBFC arm of the PL Group which is engaged in providing loans against shares & securities to retail and corporate clients as well as structured finance.

He hold a post graduate degree in Business Analytics (Finance) from Symbiosis Pune and a bachelor’s degree in Commerce R A Podar College of Commerce & Economics in Mumbai.

Rupesh Agrawal is the Chief Financial Officer of the PL Group. He is a Chartered Accountant by qualification and is a seasoned finance professional with 20+ years of experience.

Since 2010, he has been at the helm of the Finance, Taxation and Company Secretarial functions for the entire PL Group and ensures the smooth and effective operations of these critical functions. He holds a degree of Masters in Business Finance from ICAI.

A Chartered Accountant by qualification, Shaili joined PL in August 2021, and has since been entrusted with the strategic responsibility of transforming brand perception and positioning.

Shaili has played an integral role in establishing PL’s distinctive voice in India’s financial services sector. She has ramped up PL’s digital and media presence, building a relatable image that is top of mind even for younger audiences. She has also spearheaded the Group’s rebranding project.

Working across functions, she is also involved in the Group’s other strategic projects.

Prior to joining PL, Shaili was an Investment Banker.

Shaili is a Chartered Accountant and holds an honours degree in commerce from H.R.College of Commerce and Economics

Ratan Karanjia is the Chairman of the board of PL’s NBFC and a Non – Executive Director.

Uday Patil is a veteran investment banker with 41+ years of experience in commercial banking, investment banking, and capital markets. He serves on the board of PL’s investment banking arm. 

His proficiency in structuring and knowledge of statutory regulations have led to over 200+  successful IPOs, rights offers, buybacks and numerous M&A deals. 

Previously, he was one of the founder members and the Director – Investment Banking at Keynote Financial Services Limited. He was instrumental in shaping the company’s investment banking division. 

His views and insights are frequently quoted in the media and he is invited as a speaker to various industry seminars. Uday is also a visiting faculty at prestigious colleges in Mumbai, including the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies. 

Uday has completed his B.Sc. and has pursued his LL.B. from the University of Mumbai. In addition, he is a Chartered Associate of the Indian Institute of Bankers.

Dr. Punita Kumar Sinha has 30+ years of experience in investment management in emerging and international markets. She is the Founding Partner of Pacific Paradigm Advisors, USA, an independent investment advisory and management firm focused on Asia. She has served on the boards of Infosys Limited, Fairfax India Fund, Blackstone Embassy REIT, JSW Steel Limited, Lupin Limited, to name a few. She is also on the Board of Governors of the CFA Institute and has also served as Chairperson of InCred AMC.

Prior to founding Pacific Paradigm Advisors, she was a Senior Managing Director of Blackstone and the Chief Investment Officer of Blackstone Asia Advisors. She was also the Senior Portfolio Manager and CIO for The India Fund, the largest India Fund in the US, for almost 15 years, The Asia Tigers Fund, and The Asia Opportunities Fund.

She holds a Ph.D. and a Master’s in Finance from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania; CFA Charter holder; completed chemical engineering with distinction from IIT Delhi.

Inderbir Jolly brings over 22 years of rich experience in Private Banking, Family Office, Partnership Distribution and Product Management across India & Strategic International markets. His diverse skill set spans across leading Banks & NBFCs including start-up assignments with a deep focus on Technology and Digitization.

His career includes Leadership roles at renowned companies such as ICICI Securities, Reliance Wealth Management, Aditya Birla Capital, HSBC India, and more.

He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management (PGDBM) with a specialization in Marketing and Finance from IES Management College.

Ajay Sharma has 30+ years of experience in Corporate Sales & Advisory, Client Acquisitions, Business Development, and Relationship Management across all banking verticals including wholesale banking, investment banking and wealth management. His vast experience and skilful relationship management positions him as a trusted advisor for corporates.

His rich portfolio spans across M&A, PE Syndication, Structured Credit, ECM and Global Markets.  Ajay’s strategic prowess and extensive transactional experience have been honed at global institutions like BNP Paribas, Motilal Oswal, Credit Suisse, and Standard Chartered Bank.

He has completed his MBA in finance and international marketing from FMS, University of Delhi, BA (Hons) Economics from SRCC, University of Delhi. He has also successfully completed a course on Maximising Leadership Potential from Harvard Business School.

Kenin Jain is a seasoned finance professional with over 19 years of experience in Indian equities. His expertise lies in valuation analysis and identifying mispriced investment opportunities. He has rich corporate relationships and excels in adding significant value to FII & DII portfolios through his investment theses and recommendations.

Before joining PL, Kenin worked as Senior Group Vice President of Institutional Equities with Motilal Oswal Financial Services. He also headed sales at Emkay Global Financial Services and worked with US-based Voyager Investment Advisors.

On the academic front, Kenin is a commerce graduate and a qualified Chartered Accountant and an MBA from the prestigious University UPES, Dehradun

Nipun Lodha is a seasoned investment banking professional with 25+ years of experience. He holds extensive expertise in corporate finance, M&A, private equity, valuations, and equity capital market transactions across diverse sectors including industrials, consumers, education, and real estate.

He has successfully advised and executed numerous high-profile deals such as IPOs, debt restructurings, private equity placements, acquisitions, and cross-border transactions for mid-market and large corporates. He is recognized for his leadership skills, strong relationships with corporates and institutions, and ability to originate and execute complex transactions.

In his previous role at Keynote Financial Services, he was the as Head Investment Banking – PE, M&A and Valuations. In this role, he worked with over 100 large and mid-market companies across sectors.

He holds a Masters Degree in Management Studies with a specialization in Finance.

Mr. Ashok Barat is a Fellow – Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and Institute of Company Secretaries of India. He is also an Associate – Institute of Chartered Accountants of England & Wales and CPA Australia.

Currently, he is a Member of the Managing Committee at ASSOCHAM and serves on SEBI’s ACLOD committee. He is also a Board Member of prominent companies, including Bata India, Mahindra Accelo, Huhtamaki India, Alembic Pharmaceuticals, JSW Paints, Everest Industries, GE Power India, and Aarti Industries.

He is a former President of Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry and The Council of EU Chambers of Commerce in India.

He holds a B.Com from Allahabad University (1975), and was awarded Chancellor’s Gold Medal and First Rank Holder. He is also an ICAI Rank Holder with AF Ferguson & R. Venkatesan Awards and a former Visiting Faculty at IIM Lucknow (1987-1989).

Mr. Rajesh Narain Gupta is the Founder & Chairman of SNG & Partners, specializing in financial services, commercial law, real estate, and private wealth.

He is enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of India since 1988, bringing over 35 years of legal experience to corporate and transactional matters. He is an advisor to top Indian and foreign banks, financial institutions, and corporate clients, with over three decades in banking and corporate strategy.

He is a pioneer in India in the area of Succession & Estate Planning. Mr. Gupta is a key advisor on SARFAESI Act and instrumental in legal frameworks for stressed assets in India.

He has been recognized by Forbes, Legal 500, and Chambers for his contributions to banking, finance, and private client law. He serves as Independent Director on multiple boards, including HDFC Capital Advisors and J.C. Flowers Asset Reconstruction.

Samir Satyam has 25+ years of expertise in Investments and Lending across promoter financing, special situations funding and alternative investments. His impressive track record includes roles such as Investment Director at Edelweiss Alternative Asset Advisors Ltd (Managing a $900 mn Special Opportunities Fund).

He has previously held senior leadership roles as Head – Structured Finance at Hero Fincorp Ltd (Managing ₹4000 cr Book) and Business Head – Capital Market Lending at Bajaj Finance Ltd, Cholamandalam DBS Finance among others.

Samir holds a PGDBA in Finance from ICFAI Business School and a BA in Economics from Ramjas College, Delhi University