Chanda Kochhar: Mooning over banking issues

Petite yet strong, colour coordinated yet focused. Dressed up in trademark saris with carefully matched jewellery, Chanda Kocchar could have passed off for a businessman’s well dressed up wife if it wasn’t for her popularity.

The Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of India's largest private bank and overall fourth largest bank in the country, ICICI Bank, has consistently figured in Fortune's list of "Most Powerful Women in Business" since 2005. In 2009, she debuted at number 20 in the Forbes "World's 100 Most Powerful Women list” and was in the 92nd place in the magazine's annual list of 2010.

What is fascinating is the lady’s journey from the small town of Jaipur to India’s financial capital. Born in Jodhpur and raised in Jaipur under the able guidance of her Professor father and her mother who still counts on for support. Kocchar was always a hard working student who also had a big circle of friends. After her father’s death, the family moved to Mumbai where Kocchar joined Jai Hind College for a Bachelor of Arts degree. After graduating, she decided to pursue and MBA degree as well and Cost Accountancy (ICWAI).

She began her career with ICICI as a Management trainee in 1984 and has since then successfully risen through the ranks by handling multidimensional assignments, having handled all the major functions in the Bank at various points in time.

Under Kochhar's leadership, ICICI Bank won the “Best Retail Bank in India” award in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005 and “Excellence in Retail Banking Award” in 2002, both given by The Asian Banker. She personally was awarded "Retail Banker of the Year 2004 (Asia-Pacific region)" by the Asian Banker and "Rising Star Award" for Global Awards 2006 by Retail Banker International.

Married to Deepak Kocchar, she is the mother of a teenaged son and a college going daughter.