K. V. Kamath, Banker
Banker

K. V. Kamath

Born 26 November 1947 · Karnataka

Founded and led ICICI Bank as Managing Director and CEO from 1996 to 2009.

Kundapur Vaman Kamath is an Indian banker and executive who is the current Independent Director and Non-Executive Chairman of Jio Financial Services and the former chief of the New Development Bank of BRICS countries. He previously served as the Chairman of Infosys Limited, and as the Non-Executive Chairman of ICICI Bank. Kamath also served as ICICI Bank's founder and Managing Director and CEO from 1 May 1996 until his retirement from executive responsibilities on 30 April 2009.

✨

A detail that
surprised us

“

Kamath initiated ICICI Bank's computerisation in the 1980s, investments that decades later became a key competitive advantage in India's banking sector.

The Story

1
In 1971, after graduating from IIM Ahmedabad, K. V. Kamath joined ICICI's Project Finance division, setting the stage for his future as a transformative banker.
2
🌏 Between 1988 and 1996, Kamath worked at the Asian Development Bank in Manila, managing private sector projects across Asia, including China, India, and Indonesia, gaining crucial multinational experience.
3In May 1996, he returned to ICICI as Managing Director and CEO, where under his leadership ICICI Bank grew from $2 billion to over $60 billion in assets by 2009, pioneering India's first universal bank model.
4💻 Kamath spearheaded ICICI's early computerisation programs in the 1980s, making technology a competitive edge that helped ICICI evolve into a technology-driven financial services group.

🏅 Awards & Honours

—
Padma Bhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

“

In 1988, Kamath joined the Asian Development Bank in Manila, focusing on private sector projects in multiple Asian countries, including China and Vietnam, which gave him rare exposure to multilateral financing in emerging markets.

🖼️

Through the Years

2 photographs from the archives
K. V. Kamath meets Union Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi as BRICS Bank President in 2015.
K. V. Kamath meets Union Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi as BRICS Bank President in 2015.
2015
K. V. Kamath addresses a press conference after the NDB Annual Board Meeting in New Delhi, 2017.

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Birth in Mangalore, Karnataka
Kundapur Vaman Kamath was born into a Konkani-speaking family in Mangalore, laying the cultural foundation for his multilingual abilities.
1947
📚
Education
Graduated Mechanical Engineering
Kamath completed his bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal.
1969
⚡
Career
Joined ICICI post-IIM Ahmedabad
After earning his post-graduate diploma in management from IIM Ahmedabad, Kamath began at ICICI in Project Finance division.
1971
⚡
Career
Started at Asian Development Bank
Kamath worked in Manila focusing on private sector development projects across Asia, gaining vital multinational experience.
1988
⚡
Career
Became MD & CEO of ICICI
Kamath returned to lead ICICI, driving its transformation into a universal bank with expanded retail and global operations.
1996
⚡
Career
Appointed Chairman of Infosys
Kamath succeeded N. R. Narayana Murthy as chairman, steering Infosys through 2015 during a critical phase of growth.
2011
⚡
Career
Inaugural President of BRICS Bank
Kamath was chosen as the first President of the New Development Bank, overseeing infrastructure financing for BRICS countries.
2015
⚡
Career
Chairman of NaBFID
He led the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development, managing INR 20,000 crore for infrastructure projects in India.
2021
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Kamath grew ICICI Bank’s assets from $2 billion to over $60 billion during his tenure as managing director between 1996 and 2009, a massive increase rarely seen in Indian banking history.

02 / 04
💡SURPRISING

From 2010 onwards, Kamath has served as an independent director on the Houston-based oil services company Schlumberger's board, a rare example of an Indian banker crossing over into global energy sector governance.

03 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Kamath was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2008, recognizing his influence in banking during a time when India was rapidly liberalizing its financial sector.

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🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
KV Kamath Exclusive: Past, Present & Future Of The Indian Banking Sector
·YouTube
More from this archive
KV Kamath Exclusive: Past, Present & Future Of The Indian Banking Sector
01
KV Kamath Exclusive: Past, Present & Future Of The Indian Banking Sector
YouTube
NaBFID's KV Kamath On Global Economic Scenario & The India Growth Story | State Of Economy
02
NaBFID's KV Kamath On Global Economic Scenario & The India Growth Story | State Of Economy
YouTube
Top Banker K.V.Kamath Speaks On Budget 2016
03
Top Banker K.V.Kamath Speaks On Budget 2016
YouTube
Veteran Banker KV Kamath On Banking Industry
04
Veteran Banker KV Kamath On Banking Industry
YouTube
Animal spirit in Indian economy not slaughtered yet: KV Kamath
05
Animal spirit in Indian economy not slaughtered yet: KV Kamath
YouTube
Davos Direct | Iconic Banker K.V. Kamath at Davos 2019
06
Davos Direct | Iconic Banker K.V. Kamath at Davos 2019
YouTube
K. V. Kamath on learning everything from scratch
07
K. V. Kamath on learning everything from scratch
YouTube
Veteran Banker K V Kamath Gives Thumbs Up To PM Narendra Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat
08
Veteran Banker K V Kamath Gives Thumbs Up To PM Narendra Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat
YouTube
Rajpath: In Conversation With KV Kamath
09
Rajpath: In Conversation With KV Kamath
YouTube
KV Kamath speaks exclusively to DD News
10
KV Kamath speaks exclusively to DD News
YouTube

🌱 What changed because of them

K. V. Kamath transformed ICICI from a financial institution focused on project finance into a diversified universal bank with retail and global operations, setting a model for India's banking modernization. His leadership at the New Development Bank helped channel multilateral finance into infrastructure projects across BRICS nations, influencing development finance models in emerging markets. By chairing NaBFID, he contributed to establishing a dedicated institution for infrastructure funding in India, impacting national economic growth strategies.

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