BSE COO Mahesh Soneji quits

Mahesh Soneji, chief operating officer of the Bombay Stock Exchange, has resigned after spending just over a year with the leading bourse, an exchange official said.

A BSE spokesperson, confirming the resignation, told PTI in Mumbai that that BSE board has accepted his resignation and he would be relieved of his responsibilities from end-this month.

While it is not known where Soneji is headed, speculation is that he is considering offers from BSE's rival, the National Stock Exchange or the Jignesh Shah-promoted MCX SX.

The BSE spokesperson refused to comment on this.

Soneji did not pick up his cell-phone when attempts were made to contact him for his comments.

Soneji joined BSE in July 2008 as its chief operating officer following the resignation of the then BSE managing director & CEO Rajnikant Patel. Other BSE board members Jamshyd Godrej and S M Dutta had also resigned during the same period.

Soneji is a fellow member of the ICSI and an accomplished professional with over two decades of experience in the securities market in India.

Besides various other responsibilities, he was a member of the Dr Chandrate Committee relating to delisting of securities on the stock exchanges and member of M R Mayya Committee, for framing the model rules and bye-laws for the stock exchanges.