Former SBI Chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya Joins AZB & Partners

AZB & Partners Mumbai has confirmed former State Bank of India (SBI) chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya's appointment as a senior consultant, according to sources. AZB & Partners is one of the most prominent law firms in India, founded in 2004 by Zia Mody.

Bhattacharya joined SBI in September 1977 as a probationary officer. She was only 22 then. In 2013, she became the first woman to head India’s largest bank, SBI.

Beginning of her reign

During her long tenure with a variety of SBI companies, Bhattacharya had been working her way up the career ladder. She held several positions with the bank that include working in foreign exchange, treasury, retail operations, human resources and investment banking. Bhattacharya thus became the first woman in history to assume the highest office at the Government-owned institution. She also became the first woman to lead an India-based Fortune 500 company.

READ: Anshula Kant Appointed New SBI MD; Who Is She?

Becoming a powerful name in the industry

In 2016, Bhattacharya was amongst Forbes magazine’s 25 most powerful women in the world. She retired from SBI last year in October after a four-year reign as Chairman. Bhattacharya was also the chief executive of SBI's Capital Markets.

Recently, it was reported that she joined the board of Reliance Industries as an independent director for five years. “Arundhati Bhattacharya is appointed for five years commencing October 17, 2018, subject to approval of the shareholders,” RIL had said earlier. Arundhati is also adviser to private equity firm ChrysCapital Advisors LLP.

World Icon

The top banker made it to the Top 100 Global Thinkers list of Foreign Policy magazine in 2014. The same year, Fortune India’s list of 50 most-powerful businesswomen added eight new entrants among whom SBI Chairperson Arundati Bhattacharya was named as the most Powerful Indian woman in Business. In 2015, she moved up six spots to come in the 30th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes.

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