Arundhati Bhattacharya
{{Short description|Indian banker}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Arundhati Bhattacharya
| image = Arundhati Bhattacharya - Kolkata 2014-05-23 4312.JPG
| caption = Bhattacharya in May 2014
| office = Chairperson and Managing Director, State Bank of India
| predecessor = Pratip Chaudhuri
| successor = Rajnish Kumar
| term_start = 7 October 2013
| term_end = 6 October 2017
| predecessor1 =
| successor1 =
| birth_place = Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1956|03|18}}
| death_date =
| alma_mater = {{ubl|University of Calcutta|Jadavpur University{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/arundhati-bhattacharya/?list=power-women|title=Arundhati Bhattacharya|website=Forbes }} Forbes|Lady Brabourne College, Kolkata}}
| nationality = Indian
| spouse = Pritimoy Bhattacharya
}}
Arundhati Bhattacharya (born on 18th March 1956) is the chairperson and chief executive officer for Salesforce, India. She is also retired Indian banker and former Chairperson of the State Bank of India. She is the first woman to be the Chairperson of State Bank of India. In 2016, she was listed as the 25th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes.{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=The World's 100 Most Powerful Women|url=https://www.forbes.com/power-women/list/#tab:overall|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101065650/http://www.forbes.com/power-women/list/#tab:overall|archive-date=1 November 2016|access-date=7 June 2016|work=Forbes}} She is the only Indian corporate leader listed on Fortune's world's greatest leaders list ranked at 26.
In 2018, her interview titled "Arundhati Bhattacharya: The Making of SBI's First Woman Chairperson" was published on Harvard Business Review.{{cite web|url=https://hbrascend.org/topics/arundhati-bhattacharya-sbi-chairperson/|title=Arundhati Bhattacharya: The Making of SBI's First Woman Chairperson|publisher=hbrascend|access-date=12 November 2018|archive-date=12 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112223233/https://hbrascend.org/topics/arundhati-bhattacharya-sbi-chairperson/|url-status=dead}}
In January 2025, she was honored with the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, by the Government of India.{{cite web |title=Padma Award Winners 2025 Full List: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri |url=https://www.brutimes.com/news/social/padma-awards-2025-arijit-singh-ajith-kumar-shekhar-kapur-and-late-pankaj-udhas-honored-for-excellence |website=Bru Times News |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Padma Awards 2025 announced |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2096285 |website=pib.gov.in}}
Early life and education
Bhattacharya was born in a Bengali family in the city of Kolkata and spent her childhood in Bhilai and Bokaro Steel City.{{cite web |title=Arundhati Bhattacharya's versatile journey from probationary officer to SBI's Chair Managing Director |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/featurephilia/story/arundhati-bhattacharya-959889-2017-02-09 |access-date=15 December 2022 |work=India Today |date=Feb 9, 2017 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Arundhati Bhattacharya turns author, shares she was once on the verge of quitting her career |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/arundhati-bhattacharya-turns-author-shares-she-was-once-on-the-verge-of-quitting-her-career/articleshow/88853311.cms |access-date=15 December 2022 |work=The Economic Times |date=Jan 12, 202}} Her father, Prodyut Kumar Mukherjee worked at Bokaro Steel Plant. Her mother, Kalyani Mukherjee was a homeopathy consultant in Bokaro.
Bhattacharya had her schooling at St. Xavier's School (Bokaro).{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/business/all-you-need-to-know-about-arundhati-bhattacharya-sbis-first-woman-chairperson-1152593.html| title= All you need to know about Arundhati Bhattacharya, SBIs first woman chief| date= 9 October 2013|publisher=FirstPost}} She studied English literature at Calcutta's Lady Brabourne College and then at Jadavpur University. Her husband, Pritimoy Bhattacharya,{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1131009/jsp/business/story_17440117.jsp#.VuG-0jZqp7Y|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311022359/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1131009/jsp/business/story_17440117.jsp#.VuG-0jZqp7Y|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 March 2016|title=Steady climb to the top|publisher=telegraphindia}} is an ex-professor of IIT Kharagpur.
Career
Bhattacharya joined SBI in September 1977. She is the first woman to lead an India-based Fortune India 500 company. Initially, she joined SBI in 1977 as a Probationary Officer at the age of 22 years.{{cite web|title=SBI gets its first woman chair in 206 years |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/SBI-gets-its-first-woman-chair-in-206-years/articleshow/23670346.cms |work= The Times of India|date=8 October 2013 |author=Mayur Shetty|access-date= 14 October 2013}} She has held several positions during her 36-year career with the bank including working in foreign exchange, treasury, retail operations, human resources and investment banking. This included positions like the chief executive of the bank's merchant banking arm- State Bank of India Capital Markets; chief general manager in charge of new projects. She has also served at the bank's New York office. She has been involved with the launch of several new businesses such as SBI General Insurance, SBI Custodial Services, SBI Pension Funds Pvt. Ltd. and the SBI Macquarie Infrastructure Fund. She succeeded Pratip Chaudhuri, as chairman, who retired 30 Sep. 2013{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Arundhati-Bhattacharya-is-new-chief-of-SBI/articleshow/23653598.cms | title=Arundhati Bhattacharya is new chief of SBI| website=The Times of India}} She introduced a two-year sabbatical leave policy for the bank's female employees to use either for maternity or elder care. On Women's day, she announced free vaccination against cervical cancer to all the bank's female employees.
In 2016, she was named the 25th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes, which was her first time being ranked on the list.
In the same year, she was ranked among the FP Top 100 Global Thinkers by Foreign Policy magazine{{cite web|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/article/industry/narendra-modi-amit-shah-among-top-decision-makers-in-global-thinkers-list/10003/|title=Narendra Modi named top decision maker, BJP's Amit Shah, SBI's Arundhati Bhattacharya too in 'Global Thinkers' list|access-date=15 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304205348/http://www.financialexpress.com/article/industry/narendra-modi-amit-shah-among-top-decision-makers-in-global-thinkers-list/10003/|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}} She was named the 4th most powerful woman in Asia Pacific by Fortune.{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/photos/news/fortunes-list-of-most-powerful-women-in-asia-pacific-has-8-indians-18511#photo-238478|title= Fortune's List of Most Powerful Women in Asia-Pacific Has 8 Indians}} In 2017, India Today magazine ranked her at 19th in India's 50 Most powerful people of 2017 list.{{cite news|title=India's 50 powerful people|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-today-top-50-powerful-indians-mukesh-ambani-ratan-tata-kumar-mangalam-birla-gautam-adani-anand-mahindra-srk-amitabh-bacchan/1/928939.html|work=India Today|date=14 April 2017}}
She was due for retirement in October 2016, but was granted an extension till October 2017, allegedly for the controversial merger of the SBI's five associate banks and Bharatiya Mahila Bank, in the wake of gross non-performing assets (GNPAs) mounting to 73 percent; the present government justifying the move through Banks Board Bureau, who consolidated her extension.[http://www.business-standard.com/article/finance/arundhati-bhattacharya-gets-a-year-s-extension-as-sbi-chief-116100100427_1.html][http://www.financialexpress.com/economy/arundhati-bhattacharya-term-as-sbi-chairman-extended-till-october-2017/400456/][https://www.deccanchronicle.com/business/companies/200517/sbi-to-hire-lesser-staff-in-fy18-due-to-merger-with-associate-banks.html Arundhati Bhattacharya term as SBI Chairman extended till October 2017]
In 2018 she was named Business Leader of the Year at The Asian Awards.{{cite web|url=https://www.desiblitz.com/content/asian-awards-2018-recognition-glamour|title= Asian Awards 2018: Recognition with Lots of Glitz and Glamour|date= 29 April 2018|publisher=Desiblitz}}
Arundhati Bhattacharya has joined as additional director, 'independent director' of Reliance Industries for five years commencing 17 October 2018.
In 2020 she was hired as the chairperson and chief executive for the India division of Salesforce, the global giant in CRM.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/former-sbi-chairperson-arundhati-bhattacharya-to-be-ceo-of-salesforce-india/articleshow/74677936.cms|title=Salesforce India CEO: Former SBI chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya to be CEO of Salesforce India |last1=John|first1=Sujit |date=17 March 2020|first2=Shilpa |last2=Phadnis |website=The Times of India |access-date=2020-03-18}}{{Cite news|url=https://in.reuters.com/article/salesforce-india-idINKBN2142RX|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319085724/https://in.reuters.com/article/salesforce-india-idINKBN2142RX|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 March 2020|title=Salesforce hires former banker Arundhati Bhattacharya as India CEO - source|date=2020-03-17|work=Reuters|access-date=2020-03-18|language=en}} She is also currently chairperson of SWIFT India, part of a global payments network.{{Cite web|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/salesforce-hires-former-sbi-boss-arundhati-bhattacharya-as-india-ceo-5044011.html|title=Salesforce hires former SBI boss Arundhati Bhattacharya as India CEO|website=Moneycontrol|access-date=2020-03-18}}
Bhattacharya tendered her resignation as an independent director of CRISIL (a global analytical company providing ratings, research, and risk and policy advisory services) effective 15 April.{{Cite web|title = Ex-SBI chief Arundhati Bhattacharya resigns from CRISIL board |url= https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/ex-sbi-chief-arundhati-bhattacharya-resigns-from-crisil-board-5050141.html |website = Moneycontrol.com|access-date = 2020-03-19}}
She cited her joining Salesforce India as chairperson and CEO effective 20 April as the reason for the resignation. Bhattacharya would report to Ulrik Nehammer, General Manager APAC.{{Cite news|title = Salesforce hires Arundhati Bhattacharya as India Chairman, CEO |newspaper = The Economic Times |date = 17 March 2020 |url = https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/software/salesforce-hires-arundhati-bhattacharya-as-india-chairman-ceo/articleshow/74677927.cms |access-date = 2020-03-19 |last1 = Krishnan |first1 = Raghu }}
Currently, she is working as a non-executive director with Reliance Industries Limited.
She is also serving as the chairperson of the board of governors of the Indian Institute of Management, Sambalpur.{{Cite web|title = Board of Governors, IIM Sambalpur |url = https://www.iimsambalpur.ac.in/en/about-us/board-of-governors}}
In January 2022, Bhattacharya released her autobiography “Indomitable: A Working Woman's Notes on Work, Life and Leadership” published by HarperCollins. In which she details her contributions in her career and experiences and views of being a working woman in a male-dominated industry. Additionally Bhattacharya talks about her childhood, early education, college education and then her career into the State Bank of India (SBI).{{cite web|title= Banking boss Book Excerpt – Indomitable: A Working Woman's Notes on Work, Life and Leadership By Arundhati Bhattacharya|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/banking-boss-book-excerpt-indomitable-a-working-womans-notes-on-work-life-and-leadership-by-arundhati-bhattacharya/2407314/|date=16 January 2022|website=Financial Express|access-date=30 May 2022}}
Awards
- "Sera Bangali" – Serar Sera Award (2015) by the Anandabazar Patrika{{cite web|url=https://bestmediainfo.com/2015/08/abp-ananda-recognises-bengali-achievers-with-sera-bangali-awards|title=ABP Ananda recognises Bengali achievers with Sera Bangali Awards|date=28 August 2015|access-date=26 December 2022|website=bestmediainfo.com|location=Delhi}}
References
{{Reflist}}
She was born and brought up in Bhilai, and studied in sector 9 school.
External links
- [http://feministaa.com/2016/09/26/the-banker-to-the-next-generation-arundhati-bhattacharya-2/ Watch complete interview: The banker to the next generation, Arundhati Bhattacharya] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227051500/http://feministaa.com/2016/09/26/the-banker-to-the-next-generation-arundhati-bhattacharya-2/ |date=27 February 2018 }}. Feministaa.com
- [http://www.storypick.com/arundhati-bhattacharya/ 7 Lesser Known Facts About Arundhati Bhattacharya That You Probably Didn’t Know]. storypick.com
- [http://www.businessinsider.in/Know-how-SBI-chief-Arundhati-Bhattacharya-changed-Indias-largest-bank-for-the-better/articleshow/47445237.cms Know how SBI chief Arundhati Bhattacharya changed India's largest bank for the better]. Business Insider India
- [https://www.bloombergquint.com/topic/arundhati-bhattacharya Arundhati Bhattacharya] collected news and commentary at BloombergQuint
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Trade & Industry}}
{{SBI}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhattacharya, Arundhati}}
Category:Chairmen of the State Bank of India
Category:Businesspeople from Kolkata
Category:Businesswomen from West Bengal
Category:21st-century Indian businesspeople
Category:21st-century Indian businesswomen
Category:20th-century Indian businesspeople
Category:20th-century Indian businesswomen
Category:Lady Brabourne College alumni