In the dynamic realm of corporate mergers and acquisitions, Heads of M&A are those visionary leaders who orchestrate transformative deals that redefine industries. Dive in and learn more about these individuals who through their strategic acumen propel economic growth in the country.

1. Ramkumar Raja Chidambaram (Head M&A, ACL Digital): Ramkumar Raja Chidambaram has emerged as a dynamic leader in the mergers and acquisitions landscape in India, steering the firms through a series of high-profile deals. Known for his strategic acumen and ability to navigate complex negotiations, Ramkumar’s leadership is characterized by a keen eye for synergistic opportunities and a bold vision for growth.

2. Rohit Pareek (Group CFO & Head M&A and Investments, nCORE Games): Rohit Pareek, alumnus of the prestigious IIM Ahmedabad, has ascended to prominence as the head of M&A at nCORE Games. His innovative approach and deep understanding of market dynamics have been crucial in orchestrating some of the most significant M&A transactions.

3. Deepak Sharma (Managing Director and Head – M&A, Axis Capital Ltd.): As the Head of Mergers and Acquisitions at Axis Capital Ltd., Deepak Sharma has played a pivotal role in the company’s strategic expansion. Armed with glowing academic credentials including degrees from institutes like IIT Delhi and IIM Calcutta, Deepak has expertise in identifying and executing value-creating transactions.

4. Ashok A. (Business Head – M&A and Global Aftermarket, Imperial Auto Industries): Ashok A, leading the M&A division at Imperial Auto Industries, is an alumnus of premier Business school in India. His ability to seamlessly integrate acquired entities and drive operational efficiencies is a testament of his top-notch business acumen. Ashok’s analytical rigor and foresight have made him a standout figure in India’s M&A arena.

5. Daanish Varma (Head of M&A, Statkraft): Daanish Varma is at the forefront of mergers and acquisitions at Statkraft, he brings a rich experience of over 15 years featuring stints at companies like E&Y, Kotak, and Yes Securities. Varma’s innovation not only expands the company’s portfolio but also strengthened its market leadership. His expertise on infrastructure nuances and other functions like Fund Raising, Corporate Finance and more, make him an asset to any organisation.

6. Raghav Mishra (Head, Partnerships and M&A, Qure.ai): Raghav Mishra’s leadership in the M&A space at Qure.ai has been marked by impressive analytical skills and consumer insight. A robust education background featuring institutes like IIT Kanpur and Columbia B-School, Rahgav Mishra’s keen strategic vision and adeptness in managing cross-border transactions have landed him roles at reputed companies like Franklin Templeton, Jefferies, and others.

7. Manoj Kumar (Partner & Head – M&A and Transactions, Corporate Professionals): Manoj Kumar, heading mergers and acquisitions at Corporate Professionals, has been a key driver of the company’s inorganic growth strategy. Associated with company for over 14 years, Manoj’s strategic foresight continues to shape Corporate Professional’s growth trajectory. His diverse portfolio of skills includes business planning, due diligence, financial modelling, and several others.

8. Arti Gupta (Global Head – Strategy, Transformation and M&A, Wipro): Arti Gupta is an emerging force in the M&A landscape, with a diverse professional experience at firms like Evalueserve, GE Healthcare, Bain and Company and others. Arti’s leadership is characterized by her ability to identify strategic fits and drive value through meticulous integration processes, ensuring long-term success for any company.

9. Ketaki Suklikar (Legal Head of M&A, Mahindra Group): An experienced legal counsel, Ketaki Suklikar is the head of mergers and acquisitions at Mahindra Group. Her expertise in corporate law, Legal Research and strategic planning has enabled her firms to pursue synergistic acquisitions. Ketaki’s innovative approach and over 18 years of experience has helped organisations steer towards sustained growth.

10. Diwakar Sharma (Head – M&A, Compass Group India): Diwakar Sharma, alumnus of MDI Gurgaon, is leading the M&A efforts at Compass Group India. He has played a crucial role in driving the firm’s growth by leading investment decisions and identifying potential targets. His ability to navigate regulatory complexities and align acquisitions with the client’s long-term goals has been pivotal. Diwakar’s strategic initiatives have significantly enhanced the operational efficiency of companies like Lava, Apollo Tyres, and others.

11. Komal Chhabra (Head – Strategy and M&A, Tata Technologies): Komal Chhabra’s adept handling of mergers and acquisitions has set new benchmarks in the industry. Her strategic moves have consolidated the market position of her previous companies like Bharti Airtel, Pernod Ricard, and others. Komal’s foresight in identifying lucrative opportunities has been key to all her company’s sustained growth.

12. Varsha Jhawar (Head – Investment Banking and M&A, Alantra India): Varsha Jhawar, at the helm of M&A and Investment Banking division for Alantra India, has been instrumental in driving the company’s growth through strategic acquisitions and key financial decisions. Her expertise in integrating diverse business cultures and aligning them with the company’s vision has ensured seamless transitions and value creation.

13. K Mahesh (Group Head – M&A and Divestments, Larsen & Toubro): K Mahesh has been a game-changer for L&T’s mergers and acquisitions strategy. This IIM Ahmedabad alumnus’s innovative approach and deep market insights are exemplified by his stellar career spanning big names like Shell, Edelweiss Capital, Morgan Stanley, and others. Mahesh’s strategic acumen continues to propel the company’s expansion and diversification efforts.

14. Kaustubh Kulkarni (Group Head – M&A and Strategic Financing, JSW Steel): Kaustubh Kulkarni, with almost 3 decades of experience, is responsible for the leadership in M&A at JSW Steel. His ability to navigate complex negotiations and secure favourable deals is a crucial skill that helps enhance his firm’s competitive advantage and market presence.

15. Manisha Kumar (Vice President and Head – M&A Legal, Flipkart): Manisha Kumar, driving the M&A strategy at Flipkart, has played a pivotal role in handling complex transactions. She has mastery in Cross border private equity investments, corporate law, commercial litigations, and other legal functions. Manisha’s innovative deal-making approach ensures that each acquisition aligns with her company’s long-term goals.

16. Trivenika Avasthi (Head – M&A, Strategy, and Investor Relations, Niyogin): Trivenika Avasthi, with over a decade of experience in the Banking and Finance sector, is spearheading M&A at Niyogin. Trivenika’s exceptional financial acumen and leadership allow her to successfully raise equity capital, which is crucial to the firm’s growth trajectory.

17. Adarsh Reddy Mallidi (Head – M&A, Cigniti Technologies): Adarsh Reddy Mallidi, overseeing mergers and acquisitions at Cigniti Technologies, is an alumnus of IBS Hyderabad. His ability to identify and execute synergistic deals has proven vital in his previous professional experience featuring Mphasis, Voxco Insights Platform, Conduent and other firms.

18. Yogesh Hede (Head – Global M&A, Intas Pharmaceuticals Limited): Yogesh Hede’s leadership in M&A at Intas Pharmaceuticals Limited has marked his expertise in financial modelling, equity research, Portfolio management and other crucial aspects. His focus on value creation and operational synergy has driven growth in his firms, ensuring their sustained competitive advantage.

19. Siddharth Borkar (India M&A Head, Orkla): Siddharth Borkar, heading the national M&A division at Orkla Group, has a rich professional experience across different sectors. Alumnus of the reputed ICAI, Siddharth is a brilliant chartered accountant, skilled in financial modelling, corporate finance, Mergers and Acquisitions.

20. Gaurav Dugar (Head of M&A (Legal), Dream Sports): Gaurav Dugar, leading the M&A efforts at Dream Sports. His ability to conduct negotiations and drive successful integrations has significantly enhanced his stature as an M&A leader. His publications about Negotiations, Digital transactions and other similar topics have garnered a lot of praise across industries.

21. Vishal Vijaywargiya (Head of Investment and M&A, Kotak Mahindra Bank): Alumnus of one of the leading B-Schools in India, IIM Calcutta; Vishal Vijayvargiya is a strategic leader and a seasoned professional of the BFSI Sector. His ability to seamlessly identify growth opportunities and close high stakes has bolstered his firms’ market leadership and driven growth across multiple segments.

22. Ashutosh Sharma (India Head – Investments and M&A, Prosus Ventures): Ashutosh Sharma, at the forefront of M&A and Investments division at Prosus Ventures, has been key in steering the company through several strategic acquisitions and investment transactions. His expertise in the venture capital industry and strategic foresight have enabled Prosus Ventures to enhance its product portfolio and maintain its sustainable growth in the Indian market.

23. Anjum Khera (Head – Research and M&A, GlobalData Plc): Anjum Khera, leading M&A at GlobalData Plc, is a passionate professional with over two decades of industry experience. Her focus on operations management, market research, mergers and acquisitions are crucial skills driving innovation and market expansion.

24. Deepam Sanghi (Head – M&A, HDFC Bank): Deepam Sanghi’s strategic vision and leadership in mergers and acquisitions at HDFC have been crucial in the bank’s expansion and growth. Education from top institutes like IIT BHU and IIM Lucknow, Deepam is a dedicated and brilliant executive of his domain. His ability to identify and execute value-creating deals has significantly enhanced his position as an M&A leader across the BFSI Industry

25. Kundan Kishor (Head – BD and M&A, Adani Road Transport Limited): Kundan Kishor, overseeing M&A and business development at Adani Road Transport Limited, has been instrumental in the company’s strategic growth through acquisitions and financing operations. Certified professional in Structured finance and private equity, Kishor’s excellent negotiation skills and attention to detail help him drive high value projects to completion.

26. Arjun W. (Head – M&A, ITC Infotech): Arjun W.’s leadership in M&A at ITC Infotech has helped the company through strategic acquisitions and important business deals. His ability to navigate complex negotiations and secure favourable deals has been crucial in enhancing the market position of his current and previous companies like Tech Mahindra, Zensar Technologies and others.

27. Ravi Talwar (Sr. Vice President and Global Head – M&A and Corporate Development, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories): Ravi Talwar, leading the M&A strategy at Dr. Reddy’s Labs, is a seasoned finance professional with around 23 years of experience. He has played a key role in the business and financial restructuring of companies. His innovative approach and rich experience from former employers like GE Capital, Standard Chartered Bank and ICICI Securities enhance his strategic foresight and ensuring his company’s continued success in the competitive Banking and Finance industry.

28. Ambareesh Mandelia (Group Head – M&A and Business Development, Bharti Enterprises): Ambareesh Mandelia, at the helm of M&A for Bharti Enterprises, is a tenured Chartered Accountant from the reputed ICAI. His career stints at Tata 1mg, Tata Group, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and other renowned organisations are a testament of his unique ability to identify growth opportunities and drive successful integrations

29. Anup Agrawal (Head – M&A, eClerx): Anup Agrawal’s expertise in mergers and acquisitions at eClerx, has been crucial in the aggressive expansion strategy of various companies like LTI, Firstsource and others. Guest faculty at IIM Lucknow, Anup focusses on acquiring strategic assets and driving alliances and initiatives. With over 15 years of work experience, Anup is an accomplished professional and a brilliant chartered accountant in the M&A domain.

30. Paritosh Dwivedi (Head – M&A & Strategy, Manipal HealthMap): Paritosh Dwivedi, leading M&A at Manipal HealthMap, has been instrumental in the firm’s strategic acquisitions in the healthcare sector. His focus on corporate financing and raising funds through M&A and Private Equity has strengthened the market position of various companies he previously worked, ensuring their sustained growth and innovation.

As India continues to navigate through evolving market landscapes, these M&A leaders will undoubtedly remain pivotal in shaping the future of business. Their ability to seize opportunities, and drive high-value transactions underscores their significance in driving corporate growth and innovation across the nation.

Disclaimer: The selection process for candidates in this news article involves rigorous evaluation by researchers, considering parameters such as industry influence, online reputation, experience, contributions, education, accolades, and followership. However, subjective criteria may lead to outcome variations, and assessments may not capture every aspect of candidates’ profiles. Selection as winners does not imply endorsement or guaranteeing future performance. Feedback is welcomed for process enhancement as we continuously strive to improve our evaluation methods.

This article is written by Mahesh Kumar Singh, Research and Analytical Manager with IST