Institutions Bigger Than People: Shikha Sharma Parts With Axis Bank

Shikha Sharma, the outgoing MD and CEO of Axis Bank, addressed her last press conference on Friday. Sharma will leave office on December 31 after serving the third-largest private sector bank for nine-long years.

"People come and go, but institutions last longer if built right."

Sharma, while talking about her forthcoming departure from the institution, said she hoped the capacity built by her and the rest of the leadership team will enrich further and better the institution in the future.

• Born November 19, 1958, Sharma joined Axis Bank in 2009. As a leader, she has strengthened investment banking and developed a comprehensive portfolio of products.
• An alumna of Lady Shri Ram College for Women in Delhi and IIM Ahmedabad, Sharma also holds a post-graduate diploma in Software Technology.
• She began her career with ICICI in 1980.

• She was the longest-serving woman CEO in the financial sector since 2009.

• Before Axis, Sharma served as a CEO of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance.
• In Axis Bank, Sharma brought in multinational bankers, restructured operations to create business verticals, acquired a merchant banking firm and built up a large mutual fund business.
• Among her many accolades, she has bagged an award for 'Banker of the Year' in 2014-15, AIMA - JRD Tata Corporate Leadership Award in 2014, and 'India's Best Woman CEO' award in 2013.

Delivering her last press conference, she also pointed out to the bank’s capabilities both on the liabilities side in getting deposits as well as on the assets side including consumers, acquiring small businesses and corporate lending.

Earlier, the board of directors of the bank had written to the Reserve Bank of India, putting forward Sharma's request to reduce her fourth term to December 2018, instead of May 2021. Meanwhile, the bank also announced that Sharma's successor, Amitabh Chaudhry, will join on November 19 before taking over in January 2019.

Also Read: The woman behind Shikha Sharma is a tech savvy leader with an eye on goals