Chanda Kochhar began her career in 1984 as a management trainee at ICICI, eventually rising to become the managing director and chief executive officer in 2009. Her tenure at the financial institution spanned over three decades, during which she navigated the complexities of international corporate banking and the expansion of the bank's retail operations across the Indian market.
Academic Background
Born in Jodhpur in 1961, Kochhar pursued her secondary education at St. Angela Sophia School in Jaipur. She later relocated to Mumbai, attending Jai Hind College where she earned a bachelor of commerce degree from the University of Mumbai. Her graduate studies were completed at the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, where she obtained a master of management studies degree. During her academic tenure, she was awarded the Wockhardt Gold Medal for Excellence in Management Studies and the J. N. Bose Gold Medal in Cost Accountancy.
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Upon joining ICICI in 1984, Kochhar focused on project appraisal and monitoring within the textile, paper, and cement industries. By 1993, she was selected for the core team tasked with establishing ICICI Bank. Throughout the 1990s, she managed the Infrastructure Industry Group and assumed leadership roles in the bank's major client group. In 2001, she became an executive director, followed by an appointment as deputy managing director in 2006. Prior to her appointment as CEO, she served as chief financial officer and joint managing director.
Regulatory and Legal Challenges
In 2018, Kochhar resigned from her executive positions at ICICI Bank amid a conflict of interest investigation. Following an inquiry into allegations regarding high-value loans granted to the Videocon Group in 2009, the bank terminated her service, a decision subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court of India. In December 2022, the Central Bureau of Investigation arrested Kochhar in connection with these ongoing legal matters involving charges of money laundering and loan fraud.
Fast facts
- Born: 1961, Jodhpur
- Education: Jai Hind College, Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies
- Employer: ICICI Bank (1984–2018)
- Positions: Managing Director, CEO, CFO
- Awards: Padma Bhushan (2011)
- Citizenship: India
Questions readers ask
When was Chanda Kochhar CEO of ICICI Bank?
She served as the managing director and chief executive officer from 2009 to 2018.
Why was Chanda Kochhar fired from ICICI Bank?
She was terminated after an inquiry found she violated the bank's code of conduct regarding conflict of interest and disclosure requirements.
Achievements
- Affiliated with ICICI Bank
- Educated at Jai Hind College and Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies
