Lakshmi Iyer, a well-known fund manager, will join Bajaj Finserv as Group President – Investments starting August 1. She recently resigned from her role as CEO of investments and strategy at Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company, ending a two-decade-long association with the Kotak Mahindra Group.
A look at Iyer’s two-decade journey at Kotak Mahindra AMC
Iyer joined Kotak Mahindra AMC in 1999, where she led the fixed income and products team. She was responsible for credit research, deal execution, and managing fund performance across all debt funds. She also worked closely with the sales team to support client interactions and acted as a portfolio specialist, handling product pricing and coordination with fund managers and sales heads.
In an interview with Bloomberg News in April, Iyer revealed that Kotak Alternate manages around $20 billion in assets, of which more than $6 billion is invested in 14 private credit funds. She also mentioned that most of the investments come from overseas investors, including family offices and high-net-worth individuals.
Iyer among Asia’s 25 most influential women in asset management
Iyer holds an MBA in Finance from Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS). She has over 27 years of experience in financial services, with a strong background in wealth advisory, strategy, and product solutions across fixed income, real estate, and alternative investments. She is known for building high-performance teams and has been recognised as one of Asia’s 25 most influential women in asset management by AsianInvestor.
Leadership change at Bajaj Group firms
Her appointment comes as Bajaj Finserv looks to strengthen its investment business. The company, led by Sanjiv Bajaj, is a major player in India’s retail lending space. It has recently launched its own asset management arm — Bajaj Finserv Asset Management.
In another recent development, Rajeev Jain, CEO of Bajaj Finance, was appointed as an additional director on the board of Bajaj Finserv in April. He also continues to serve as vice chairman of Bajaj Finance.