Uday Kotak

Uday Kotak

Founder, CEO & MD, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd
Birth DetailsMarch 15, 1959 | Mumbai
NationalityIndian
LeagueEntrepreneur
EducationBachelor’s in Commerce & Master’s in Management Studies, Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai
Net Worth$11.5 billion (as of August 10, 2020)
Uday Kotak's Assets


Uday Kotak's Journey so far...

  • Although he came from a business background, Uday Suresh Kotak decided to pursue his own entrepreneurial dreams
  • So in 1985 at the age of 26, with some seed money raised from family and friends and a 300 square-feet office lent to him by his father, he started his own finance firm which was initially called Kotak Capital Management Finance
  • Soon after, Anand Mahindra of Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. came on board as an investor, and in 1986 the company was renamed as Kotak Mahindra Finance Ltd.
  • As time passed, the company diversified its offerings to include stock brokerage, investment banking, mutual funds and insurance services
  • In 1995, Kotak’s firm became the first-ever company to form a joint venture with Goldman Sachs. The joint venture came to an end in 2006 when the former bought back its shares for $75 million
  • In 2003, Kotak Mahindra Finance became India’s first, private-sector non-banking financial company (NBFC) to become a commercial bank
  • The year 2015 marked a significant milestone for Kotak when the bank merged with ING Bank’s India chapter -- ING Vysya
  • In 2016, his company acquired 19.9% equity shares of Airtel Payments Bank (then known as Airtel M Commerce Services Ltd.)
  • In 2017, the company purchased BSS Microfinance Limited for $21 million
  • Today, Kotak Mahindra Bank is one of India’s four largest private-sector banks which offers a wide range of financial services including banking, stockbroking, investment banking, car finance, life and general insurance and asset management. With around 1,600 branches, the bank has presence all across India and in several major cities around the globe
  • Currently, Kotak himself owns around 26% of Kotak Mahindra Bank and is the world’s richest self-made banker
  • Kotak is a firm believer in the concept of empowerment using education and through the Kotak Education Foundation runs several programmes to benefit the underprivileged


Before you go...

  • Despite being a top academic performer, Kotak was an avid sports fan and played several sports in his younger days
  • At times, Kotak has mentioned that if not an entrepreneur, he would have loved to be a cricketer
  • He had to go through a life-saving surgery once after getting hit by a ball while playing cricket
  • The demonetisation drive launched by PM Narendra Modi on November 8, 2016, became the basis for the nomenclature of the bank’s Kotak 811 service

Last Updated: 12/02/2021

Uday Kotak News

  • Banking doyen Uday Kotak has urged Indian companies to invest in the future, calling Alphabet's $80 billion fundraise a wake-up call. He emphasized shifting focus back to business building now that the IPL has concluded. Kotak highlighted that even profitable tech giants like Alphabet continue to invest heavily in long-term innovation, stressing the need for Indian firms to avoid complacency.
  • Veteran banker Uday Kotak urged Indian companies to urgently invest in future technologies, especially AI, citing Google's massive $80 billion capital raise. He highlighted that global tech giants are aggressively reinvesting despite strong profits, a stark contrast to India's restrained long-term innovation spending. Kotak called for a renewed focus on business and competitiveness.
  • Uday Kotak, Founder and Director of Kotak Mahindra Bank, emphasized that it is time for India to focus on the business of business now that other distractions have concluded. This call to action comes as global technology giants scale up their financial capacity to build next-generation infrastructure, highlighting a massive scale gap between global tech corporations and the Indian corporate landscape.
  • Industrialist Anand Mahindra reminisced about his first meeting with Uday Kotak, a young MBA graduate who pitched a bill discounting idea that evolved into a leading banking institution. Mahindra lauded Kotak's "magnificent and inspiring journey" from financial intermediation to becoming a respected global banker, acknowledging his recent Padma Bhushan honor.
  • President Droupadi Murmu presented India's top civilian honours. Violinist N. Rajam received the Padma Vibhushan for her classical music contributions. Former Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and banker Uday Kotak were awarded the Padma Bhushan. Actor Dharmendra was posthumously honoured with the Padma Vibhushan for his cinema work. His wife Hema Malini accepted the award.
  • Veteran banker Uday Kotak urged India to embrace innovation and disruptive thinking to become a powerful economy, warning that excessive focus on preservation could hinder its rise. He emphasized the need for more creation and destruction, akin to Brahma and Mahesh, to drive economic change in a world increasingly defined by raw power and strategic control.
  • As tensions in the Middle East escalate, India grapples with an uncertain future. Uday Kotak has raised alarms about sharp increases in energy costs, forecasting a seismic shift in global dynamics that demands vigilant preparation. The ripple effects have yet to reach everyday consumers, but a growing current account deficit looms large.
  • Business tycoon Uday Kotak warns that the real economic pain from the Iran war is yet to hit Indian consumers, with soaring energy prices poised to trigger a major financial shock.
  • CII Annual Summit: Uday Kotak issued a rallying cry for India to gear up for looming global challenges. He stressed upon the importance of a proactive stance rather than a wait-and-see approach for India to successfully navigate the current global turmoil.
  • India's top business leaders gathered for the ET Awards in Mumbai. The event celebrated achievements and fostered conversation. Dignitaries like Nirmala Sitharaman and N Chandrababu Naidu attended. The evening highlighted India's economic vitality and the importance of peace for business success. Attendees enjoyed diverse culinary offerings and networking opportunities.

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