Uday Kotak
Uday Kotak (born 15 March 1959) is the executive vice-chairman and managing director of Kotak Mahindra Bank and its principal founder and promoter. Kotak is an alumnus of Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies. From a humble start in trade finance, Uday built one of India's largest financial institutions. He came from an upper middle class Gujarati family.
In 1985, when he was still in his early twenties, Kotak thought of setting up a bank when private Indian banks were not even seen in the game. First Kotak Capital Management Finance Ltd (which later became Kotak Mahindra Finance Ltd), and then with Kotak Mahindra Finance Ltd, Kotak became the first non-banking finance company in India's corporate history to be converted into a bank. Over the years, Kotak Mahindra Group grew into several areas like stock broking and investment banking to car finance, life insurance and mutual funds.
He was chosen as Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2003. He was also featured among the Top Financial Leaders for the 21st Century by Euromoney magazine. He is married and has two children.
