Shikha Sharma was appointed as the managing director and chief executive officer of Axis Bank in June 2009. Sharma’s appointment came at a time UTI Bank was named Axis Bank, and the board of directors felt that the bank should be more aggressive in pursuing business. The bank had a legacy issue and high exposure in corporate loans. Sharma’s job was to fortify the retail lending practice at Axis Bank and she did that.
Sharma was earlier with ICICI Bank for 29 years, and would be completing nine- and-a-half years at Axis Bank upon her retirement in December. Prior to