Prodipta Guhathakurta

Area of Expertise:

• Administration, Management, Finance/Accounting, Procurement
• Agriculture, Livelihoods, Microfinance, Rural
• Capacity Building, Training, Advocacy

Professional Experience:

Worked over five years at SBI in extending credit to micro, small & medium enterprises, both at Branch and controlling office levels. This was followed by a six-year stint in planning, budgeting and performance review at SBI's Kolkata Head Office. Finally underwent a mandatory two-year rural assignment as the Head of a rural branch, before leaving for a new generation private sector bank (Axis Bank). Began an eleven-year-old stint with Axis Bank by setting up a new branch at Durgapur, West Bengal and took it to a leadership position in terms of low-cost deposits, SME credit and fees from insurance and capital market products. Given charge of an old Branch near Kolkata and turned it around by forging account relationship with Government Departments for extending banking support for the implementation of flagship schemes for promoting universal education and rural employment. Promoted to head the SME Centre of the Bank for the entire Northeast aRegion of India. Transformed a fledgling SME Credit franchise to become the third largest SME lender in the region within a span of three years. Promoted again to head a Cluster of 16 branches across Upper Assam, Nagaland and East Arunachal Pradesh, distinguishing in implementing the financial inclusion project of the Central Government. Took early retirement from the Bank in June 2015 to return to family in Kolkata and worked in micro insurance as a Consultant with SBI Life Insurance Co. promoting the spread of insurance cover in rural and semi-rural areas by increased adoption of digital applications. Exited contract in July 2018 after securing over 90 per cent digitisation of customer engagement and on-boarding processes.