Anup Kumar Singh :: Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Anup Kumar Singh is one of the pioneers in India’s microfinance sector with more than 24 years Anup Singh of experience to his credit. He is presently serving as the Managing Director and CEO on the Board of the company. Mr. Anup promoted Sonata Finance in 2006 to make microfinance self-sustainable and economically viable.

As Managing Director of Sonata, he sets the innovative business model and strategies, evaluates opportunities and risks, guides its operations and monitors its overall working to fulfil its mission and vision. Under his supervision and mentoring, Sonata has excellently executed its goals and created a strong, sustainable and value creating business. It has been an achievement that the company, under the guidance of Mr. Singh have succeeded in improving the earning capacity of thousands of households.

Mr. Singh through his able leadership qualities and mentorship has established Sonata as a leading micro-finance institution in Uttar Pradesh. His aim is to guide Sonata becoming a one stop solution to all the financial needs of customer and in the process transform its relationship with millions of customers as a true financial counsellor.

Before starting Sonata, Mr. Anup underwent training with Grameen Bank in Bangladesh. He holds a Master’s degree in Economics & Sociology, a Postgraduate Diploma in Rural Development and Management, and MBA in Finance.

Devarajan Kannan :: Director

In his little more than three decades at Kotak Mahindra Group, DevarajanD Kannan has spearheaded various businesses. In 1991, he joined Kotak Mahindra Finance Ltd. as Assistant Manager. Thereafter, he was elevated to Vice President - Field Operation, Ford Credit Kotak Mahindra Ltd. with the responsibility of its Sales & Marketing functions.

Kannan moved to Kotak Securities Ltd in 2000. He set up kotaksecurities.com - the online trading and stock market advisory platform of the retail brokerage business. Prior to taking charge of the Commercial Banking business, Kannan was Managing Director (MD), Kotak Securities Ltd. Prior to his elevation as MD of Kotak Securities, he was the company’s Executive Director.

Kannan was heading one of the Strategic Business Units (SBU) of Kotak Mahindra Bank - the Commercial Banking business from August 2014 to July 2022. Kannan was part of the Bank’s Group Management Council that drives and oversees Kotak Mahindra Group’s growth charter.

Mr. Devarajan is a commerce graduate from Bangalore University, Chartered Accountant (CA), and Cost and Works Accountant (CWA).

Manish Kothari :: Director

Manish has been with Kotak Mahindra Bank for close to 3 decades Manish & has been a part of Kotak Leadership Team (KLT) for the last 15 years. He took charge as the President & Head - Commercial Banking in August 2022 and he currently heads a 11,000+ strong team across India covering multiple segments, viz., Agri Business – MSME & Corporates; Rural – Tractor & Crop Loans; Logistics and Infra – CV, CE Loans and Working Capital; Inclusion – Microcredit and Gold Loans.

Prior to this role, Manish led the Corporate Banking business of the Bank where he played a key role in setting up the Bank’s franchise in all customer segments of Corporate Banking, viz., Conglomerates, Large Corporates, Mid Corporates, SMEs, E-Commerce/Start-ups (New Age Cos.), Credit Light Corporates and Supply Chain of Corporates.

He is a metallurgical engineering graduate from the Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur where he topped the University. He has completed his PGDBM from XLRI, Jamshedpur, specializing in both Finance & Marketing.

Tapobrat Chaudhuri :: Director

Tapobrat Chaudhuri heads the Microfinance business of TapobratKotak Mahindra Bank and has an experience of more than 2 decades in banking. He joined the Kotak group in 2005 in the Agri Business Group of the Bank and has worked in various roles before becoming the National Sales Manager in Corporate Agri Business. In this role he has handled & nurtured marquee relationships of companies in the Food & Agri sector. As a natural expansion of Kotak Bank’s operations into the rural & semi-urban economy he built deep relationships with microfinance companies & NBFCs.

In his current role, his core responsibility is to strengthen & expand the retail microfinance franchise of Kotak with an objective of fostering financial inclusion while at the same time building a scalable and profitable business. He has tested skills of building, coordinating and leading teams. He is an ardent believer in the transformational role of technology in exponentially scaling up operations. He has actively worked with MFIN in various policy matters related to microfinance and was on MFIN’s task force on drafting of the Code of Responsible Lending.

Tapobrat started his career as a probationary officer in the State Bank of India group and also had a stint with Axis Bank before joining the Kotak group. He is a science graduate and a Certified Associate of the Indian Institute of Bankers (CAIIB).