Sanjay Sachdev: Tata's new asset

Peers describe Sanjay Sachdev, new chief executive officer of Tata Asset Management Company, as a man who can form alliances with ease.

Under his leadership, US financial services major Principal Group raised third-party assets of over $2.5 billion in India.

He was instrumental in Principal's partnership with IDBI and later with Punjab National Bank and Vijaya Bank.

From 2006 until recently, Sachdev helped drive Japan's Shinsei Bank business strategy in India and facilitated establishing an investment management platform to support its parent, JC Flowers, in India.

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Sachdev established an offshore fund management platform in Singapore and an onshore business for Shinsei, raising third-party assets of $900 million and generating net revenues of over $30 million for the bank over the last four-and-a-half years.

He initiated and closed two transactions, including the Lemon Tree Hotels and Sicom (a state government-promoted NBFC), and facilitated investments in the real estate sector for Shinsei.

It is no surprise that Sachdev, 48, was recently snapped up by Tata to head its asset management business.

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People in the know say he was hired with a larger gameplan in mind with regard to the group's insurance, pension, private equity and offshore fund management business.

However, senior officials at Shinsei say while his speed of execution makes him stand out, Sachdev could unnerve colleagues with sudden changes in strategy.

At a time when the asset management business was still in its infancy in India, Sachdev was one of the key persons involved in convincing the government to open up the country's pension sector.

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He was a member of the working group on pension reform established by insurance regulator Irda in 2000, as well as a member of the pension working group of mutual fund industry body Amfi in 2002.

A certified financial planner, Sachdev also co-founded the CFP Programme in India.

He was also founding chairman of the Financial Planning Standards Board.

A law graduate from Bombay University, Sachdev is a certified master in corporate governance issues from Wharton School, and has a master's degree in international management from the American Graduate School of International Management.