1971-1980 – Graduated from Loyola College, Chennai in 1976 majoring in Commerce. Admitted immediately into BL Degree course at Madras Law College. Joined State Bank of India as a Probationary Officer, in September 1977. Enrolled for completing the BL final degree year course in Madras Law College (evening) during 1979-80. Finished CAIIB Part 1during probation period. On confirmation posted at Overseas Branch, Chennai and in May 1980 posted as India Based Trainee Official at SBI, Frankfurt.

1981-90 – Learnt German Language from Berlitz Schule, Frankfurt. Finished CAIIB Part 2 in 1982 and IIB’s Certificate in Industrial Finance in 1983. Repatriated back to Commercial Branch, Chennai in February 1984 as Field Officer. Married Tirumala Devi on 4th October 1984. Promoted as Deputy Manager (Middle Management Grade 11) in 1984 merit channel and next year promoted as Manager (Middle Management Grade 111) in 1985. Posted, in 1986, as Branch Manager, Madras Refineries Ltd, Manali, Chennai. Admitted into 3 year Evening MBA Degree program at Department of Management Studies, University of Madras, Chepauk, Chennai in 1984 successfully completing with high first class degree and 7 distinctions, in 1987, specialising in Foreign Trade, Corporate Finance & Security Analysis and Portfolio Management. Posted in early 1988 as Manager, Marine & Misc Division Manager, Overseas Branch, Cochin and in late 1989 posted at SBI Capital Markets Ltd, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai. Promoted as Chief Manager (Senior Management Grade 1V) in 1989. Initially, posted in Leasing Department and later Chief Dealer Securities. .

1991-2000 – Deputed to various prestigious training programs including at Banker’s Training College, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, etc. Posted as Fund Manager at the bank’s offshore fund with Morgan Stanley, namely, India Magnum Fund NV. Was examiner for IIB’s Commercial Law paper for continual 5 years. Blessed with daughter Manjula in March 1993. The same year promoted as Assistant General Manager (Senior Management Grade V). Joined the new generation bank, Indusind Bank Ltd., as Vice President in August 1995 and set up its main office at Nungambakkam, Chennai (same premises still retained by the Bank), while also responsible for setting up offices at Avinashi and Coimbatore. Achieved record performance for the branch in 4 years and left overseas in May 1999 to take up assignment as Senior Divisional Head, National Bank of Dubai, Dubai.

2001-2010– Heralded NBD’s centralisation initiatives, right sizing of various operational departments, emiritization responsibilities/training, core banking replacement project and bank’s designated SWIFT officer. In addition, deputed as bank’s representative with Central Bank of UAE towards the recently implemented anti money laundering provisions legislated, KYC standardisation, image clearing cheque system, trade finance, archiving of records, etc.
travelled extensively as guest faculty on banking topics. Joined Standard Chartered Bank, Haddows Road, Chennai, as Vice President after 8 years at Dubai. Next year, in 2008, joined as Chief Executive Officer at Easyaccess Financial Services (fully owned subsidiary of the listed M/s Redington India Limited) with an average assets book of 800 crores engaging in factoring of receivables pan India.

2011- More than 3 years as CEO at Easyaccess, Middle East again beckoned and joined Finance House, Abu Dhabi  in 2011 as Head, Credit Admin & Remedial Management and later headed Corporate Banking at Invest Bank, ADD in 2012, retiring from the bank in May 2016. Travel had been a passion, especially, from the years posted at Frankfurt (being located in Central Europe) and extensive travel embarked whenever possible, visiting almost all the important places in the continent including UK between 1980 and 1984. After retirement, undertook a long six weeks trip to Germany (Black Forest) along with wife and daughter and later with a friend to Eastern Europe. Every year there had been long trips including 5 weeks trip to USA and Canada last year, to Sri Lanka this year and Middle East year before last. Being retired, I am called to take up select consultancy assignments from time to time relating to restructuring of assets in UAE which do not take much time, while retaining my leisure most time.

Tirumala Devi  is a B.Sc graduate having completed C1 at Max Mueller’s Bahavan, Chennai and had been teaching German language to the 11th & 12th standard boys at St. Mary’s AIHS, Armenian Street since academic year 2015 and earlier, similarly teaching at St. Bede’s between 2008 and 2011.

Manjula is working as a Visual Merchandizer with a private group company, having competed her +12 at Chettinad Vidyashram, Chennai, then partly at Stella Maris, later at Middlesex University, Dubai and graduating from UAE.

Getting the opportunity to reconnect with the schoolmates almost 50 years after leaving thealma mater school is the most cherished aspect of this digital storehouse and sharing each other profiles highlighting the salient features of one’s life journey infuses the human interest and bonding while wishing very much that the existing camaraderie and fellowship gets cemented further in our greying years.