Mr Analjit Singh

Chairman, Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd. and Founder & Chairman Emeritus

Mr Analjit Singh is the Founder & Chairman of The Max Group, a leading Indian multi-business enterprise, with interests in life insurance (Max Life), real estate (Max Estates), and senior living (Antara). The Max Group is renowned for successful joint ventures with some pre-eminent firms, including Mitsui Sumitomo & Toppan, Japan; New York Life Insurance Company; Bupa Plc, Life Healthcare, SA; DSM, Netherlands, Hutchison Whampoa; Motorola, Lockheed Martin, and others. 

Mr Analjit Singh is the founder of Leeu Collection, a group of leisure boutique hotels in Franschhoek, South Africa; The Lake District, UK; and soon to be opened in Florence, Italy, one of his privately held family businesses. The Leeu Collection also includes a significant presence in wine and viticulture through Mullineux Leeu Family Wines in SA. 

Mr Analjit Singh was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s second highest civilian honour, by the President of India in 2011. Besides being an alumnus of The Doon School and Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi, Mr Analjit Singh holds an MBA degree from the Graduate School of Management, Boston University. He has been conferred with an honorary doctorate by Amity University. 

He is also a Director of the Board of Sofina NV/SA, Belgium. Till August 2018, he was the non-executive Chairman of Vodafone India. 

Mr Analjit Singh is a member of the Founder Executive Board of the Indian School of Business (ISB), India’s top-ranked B-School, and has served as the Chairman of the Board of Governors of The Indian Institute of Technology and The Doon School.

Mr Analjit Singh has served the Prime Minister’s Indo-US CEO and Indo-UK CEO Council and till recently served as the Honorary Consul General of the Republic of San Marino in India.

Mr Prashant Tripathy

Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

A seasoned professional with over two decades of experience across Finance, Organisational Strategy, Operations, Risk Management, and Investor Relations, Mr Prashant Tripathy leads Max Life Insurance as the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer. Having spent 12 years at the Company, Prashant was the former Chief Financial Officer at Max Life, spearheading Financial Management and Corporate Strategy, as well as playing a critical role in managing Investor Relations and Communications for Max Financial Services Ltd., the parent company of Max Life Insurance.

Prashant joined Max Life as Head of Strategy in 2007 and led all organizational strategic initiatives on growth and profitability. In his eight years’ tenure as the CFO, Prashant played a pivotal role in positioning Max Life Insurance as a respected private life insurance company. A keen strategist, he helped navigate the organization through several regulatory changes and corporate actions. Through his years with the company, Prashant has anchored Max Life’s efforts towards expansion, growth and strategic partnerships.

It is during his tenure as CFO, that Max Life gained market share and grew to be the fourth largest private life insurer and the largest non-bank promoted private life insurance company in India. Through this period, margins, Return on Embedded Value (RoEV) and other financial outcomes of Max Life, all witnessed consistent growth.

Prashant is passionate about people, be it customers, partners, or employees. He brings with him a strong focus on building a customer-centric culture in the organisation, and on delivering ‘real value’ to customers at every moment of truth. His mantra for the employees is his deep-rooted belief in the values of the organisation and respect for the uniqueness and diversity that each employee brings to the organisation.

Prior to joining Max Life Insurance, Prashant was associated with GE and Genpact for eight years in India as well as in the UK. During the early days of his distinguished career, Prashant worked with Tata Steel, Jamshedpur, where he was responsible for the operations of a steel plant. Prashant holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur and is a Post Graduate in Management from IIM Bangalore.

Mr V. Viswanand

Deputy Managing Director, Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

An industry veteran with a dynamic presence in the financial services sector for nearly three decades, V. Viswanand is Deputy Managing Director at Max Life Insurance and a member of the Board. He is responsible for Distribution, including Proprietary Channels, Bancassurance, and Third Party Business, Institutional Sales, Business Development, and Distribution Operations. He also steers the strategic direction and growth of the company through his deep involvement in the strategy formulation processes. Additionally, he leads the Max Skill First training partnership.

A Founder Team Member of Max Life, Viswanand has been associated with the Company for nearly two decades and has consistently demonstrated qualitative leadership across diverse verticals including Agency, Bancassurance, Direct Sales, Product Development, Persistency management, Operations, Technology, Quality, Innovation & Service Excellence. In his previous role at Max Life Insurance, Viswanand was Senior Director and COO. Prior to that, he was the Director & Head - Product Solutions Management wherein he enabled two large-scale transformations in the face of regulatory changes, which resulted in a significant increase in the market share of the company.

Over the years, Viswanand has not only played an instrumental role in propelling Max Life to emerge as the industry leader in Customer Retention, Claims Settlement Ratio and Customer Loyalty but also led the Company’s wins in several global and national accolades in Quality and Technology, including the coveted Gold medal at ASQ, USA, and RBNQA.

Prior to joining Max Life Insurance, Viswanand was a retail banker with ANZ Grindlays Bank for nearly a decade. He holds a Master’s degree in Management Studies from BITS, Pilani. 

Mr Girish Shrikrishna Paranjpe

Independent Director, Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

Mr Girish S. Paranjpe has been appointed as an Independent Director of Max Life Insurance with effect from April 6, 2021.

He served as the Co-CEO of Wipro's IT Business from 2008-2011 and was a member of the Board of Directors of Wipro Ltd.

Mr Paranjpe served at Wipro Limited, India's third-biggest software company, for over two decades, contributing to the rise of India’s IT industry from its infancy to its current globally dominant position. He led Wipro's IT business worth USD 5.8 billion and employee strength of over one lakh, spread over 54 countries. Recently, he was the Managing Director for Bloom Energy International, a Silicon-Valley-based alternative energy company. Mr Girish S. Paranjpe along with his IT industry colleagues has promoted a venture fund, Exfinity Venture Partners, which invests in tech start-ups. Mr Paranjpe is also a General Partner at Exfinity.

Mr Girish S. Paranjpe is a Commerce graduate and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India.

Mr K. Narasimha Murthy

Independent Director, Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

Mr K. Narasimha Murthy was appointed as an Independent Director of Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd. with effect from August 23, 2013.

Mr K. Narasimha Murthy, having a brilliant Academic record, getting ranks in both CA & ICWA courses, entered the profession of Cost & Management Accountancy in 1983. Presently, he is on the Boards of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), NELCO (A TATA Enterprise), Max Life Insurance Company Ltd., Max Healthcare Institute Ltd., Max Specialty Films Ltd., Max Financial Services Ltd. and Shivalik Small Finance Bank Ltd. Earlier he was associated as a Director on the Boards of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC), IDBI Bank Ltd., LIC Housing Finance Ltd., UTI Bank Ltd. (presently Axis Bank), Member of the Board of Supervision of NABARD, Unit Trust of India (UTI), Infiniti Retail Limited (TATA Croma), IFCI Ltd., STCI Finance Ltd. (Formerly Securities Trading Corporation of India Ltd.), AP State Finance Corporation, APIDC Ltd., etc. He has also served as a Member/ Chairman of more than 50 High-Level Government Committees both at the State & Central levels. He is associated with the Development of Cost & Management Information Systems for more than 175 Companies covering more than 50 Industries. He is also a Member of the Cost Accounting Standards Board of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India.

Mr Rajesh Khanna

Independent Director, Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

Mr Rajesh Khanna has been appointed as an Independent Director of Max Life Insurance with effect from April 6, 2021.

Mr Rajesh Khanna is the Founder & CEO of Arka Capital Advisors Pvt. Ltd. and is an investor in various companies. Previously, he served as a Managing Director and India Head of Warburg Pincus, a global private equity firm, and was a member of its global Executive Management Group.

Mr Rajesh Khanna holds a PGDM from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and is a qualified Chartered Accountant.

Mr Pradeep Pant

Independent Director, Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

Mr Pradeep Pant was appointed as an Independent Director of Max Life Insurance with effect from February 07, 2019. He is a highly experienced senior business leader, with active involvement in business consulting and education, and holds several board positions. With over 37 years of experience in the FMCG industry, Mr Pradeep Pant is an expert in building businesses in both mature and emerging markets. He has a deep understanding of market dynamics and cultural diversity. He has a proven track record and passion for turning organisations around.

Mr Pant was Executive Vice President and President of Asia Pacific (AP) and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA) for Mondelēz International till the end of 2013. He has served as the President of Asia Pacific, since 2008, and he assumed his responsibility for the EEMEA region in 2012. Previously, Mr Pant was the Regional Managing Director for Asia, Africa, and the Middle East for Fonterra Brands. He was a member of the Fonterra leadership team as well as the company’s global brands marketing group. Prior to Fonterra, he spent 19 years with The Gillette Company working in India, Russia, Turkey, and Asia Pacific. Mr Pant has also worked with Nestle, J Walter Thompson, and the Tata group.

Mr Pant holds a Master of Management Studies degree from the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Bombay University, and a BA Honours degree in Economics from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University. Pradeep is also the Founding President of Food Industry Asia (FIA), the Dean’s fellow at SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business 2010-2018 and a Senior Advisor to McKinsey & Co as well as a host of International Companies. He sits on the Supervisory Boards of Max Bupa Health Insurance India, Antara Senior Living India, Max India and Royal DSM N.V. Netherlands among others.

Mr Mohit Talwar

Non-executive Director, Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

Mr Mohit Talwar has been appointed as a Non-executive Director of the Company w.e.f January 30, 2016.

Mr Mohit Talwar is the Managing Director of Max Financial Services Limited (MFSL), the listed parent company of Max Life. He is the erstwhile Vice-Chairman of the Max Group and Managing Director of Max India – the Group’s holding company for its senior care business – before relinquishing his role in January 2021. While he stepped off the Boards of Max Ventures & Industries and Antara, he remains on the Boards of Max Life and Max India as a Non-Executive Director.

During his stint at the Max Group, he has successfully leveraged his strong relationships with institutional investors, hedge funds, banks, and private equity firms, and he led several complex corporate finance and financial structuring deals to ensure adequate investment and liquidity for the Group’s operations. He played a central role in executing key transactions, including the joint venture transaction between Max Life and Axis Bank and for restructuring of Max India with the divestment of its healthcare and health insurance businesses. Some of the other corporate transactions in the past where he played a key role include the mega restructuring of the erstwhile Max India into three newly listed companies, which received a significantly positive reaction from capital markets, setting up of Max Bupa Health Insurance in 2010, joint venture partnerships between Mitsui, Japan and Max Life, and Life Healthcare, South Africa, and Max Healthcare. He has also overseen key transactions in MaxVIL, including the induction of Toppan Group as a JV partner in Max Speciality Films, and a 22.5% stake sale to New York Life’s subsidiary.

A veteran in the Corporate Finance and Investment Banking industry, Mr Talwar has a wealth of experience in Corporate Finance and Investment Banking. He has spent 24 years in Wholesale Banking across global organisations such as Standard Chartered, ANZ Grindlays, and Bank of Nova Scotia, prior to joining the Max Group.

Mr Rajesh Kumar Dahiya

Non-executive Director, Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

Mr Rajesh Kumar Dahiya has been appointed as a Non-executive Director on the Board of Max Life w.e.f. April 6, 2021.

He was an Executive Director (Corporate Centre) of the Axis Bank. In his role at Axis bank, he used to supervise all functions under Corporate Centre viz. Internal Audit, Human Resources, Compliance, Company Secretary, Corporate Communications, Administration & Security, Corporate Real Estate Services, Chief Business Relations Officer (CBRO), Corporate Social Responsibility, Ethics & Sustainability, and Law. In addition, Mr Rajesh Kumar Dahiyaoversaw the functioning of the Axis Bank Foundation.

Before Axis Bank, he was associated with the Tata Group for 20 years, where he handled various responsibilities in domains such as Human Resources, Manufacturing, Exports, Distribution, and Institutional Sales.

He is a qualified engineer with a Master's degree in Management from Punjab University.

Ms Marielle Theron

Non-executive Director, Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

Ms Theron was appointed Director of Max Life Insurance w.e.f. May 2009. Ms Theron, a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, has over 35 years of experience in the financial service industry. She is a Principal of Erlen Street Corporation, Switzerland, a company that specialises in strategic investment and management consulting solutions.

Prior to that, Ms Theron worked in both consulting and corporate roles for multinational companies and governments across Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, advising on insurance and investment-related solutions. She holds a B.Sc. major in Actuarial Science from Laval University, Canada and is a Fellow of the Society of Actuary (FSA).

Mr Rajiv Anand

Non-executive Director, Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

Mr Rajiv Anand has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Max Life Insurance on the Board of Max Life w.e.f. April 6, 2021.

Currently, he is an Executive Director of Axis Bank. He has also served as the Managing Director & CEO of Axis Asset Management Co. Ltd.

Over a career spanning more than 30 years, Mr Rajiv Anand has focussed on various facets of the financial services industry having held key management positions at leading global financial institutions. He is renowned for his strengths in capital markets and successfully building new businesses to scale. He has led an award winning investment management team at the erstwhile Standard Chartered AMC. He was Business Standard Debt Fund Manager of the year in 2004.

Mr Rajiv Anand is a Commerce graduate and a Chartered Accountant by qualification.

Mr Subrat Mohanty

Non-executive Director, Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

Mr Subrat Mohanty has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Max Life Insurance on the Board of Max Life w.e.f. April 6, 2021.

He is the Group Executive - Banking Operations & Transformation at Axis Bank. There, he leads all functions under the Retail & Wholesale Banking Operations, Information Technology, Strategy, and Business Intelligence Unit of the Bank.

Mr Mohanty has more than 20 years of experience, spanning across different industries and functions. In his previous stint, he served as the Group President at Manipal Education & Medical Group responsible for business performance and strategy across the group’s interests in Education, Healthcare, and Insurance. Prior to joining the Manipal group, he was the COO of HDFC Life responsible for a wide range of functions including Strategy, Operations, Technology, Digital and Health Insurance. During his time at Infosys, he has been in a variety of leadership roles across Operations, Solutions, Strategy, and technology-led Transformation Programs. He started his career with Andersen Consulting (now Accenture).

Mr Mohanty is an alumnus of NIT, Rourkela and IIM, Calcutta. In his personal time, he runs marathons, writes about movies, and has an interest in popular Indian culture.

Mr Mitsuru Yasuda

Non-executive Director, Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

Mr Mitsuru Yasuda has been appointed as a Director of Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd. w.e.f. July 24, 2020. He is also an Assistant General Manager of the Asian Life Insurance Business Dept. of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co. Ltd. (“MSI”). He has more than 20 years of experience in the life insurance business, M&A advisory business and audit business. He holds a Japanese CPA license.

He joined MSI in 2015 and took on a supervisory role in Sinarmas MSIG Life, MSI’s life insurance subsidiary in Indonesia until he got appointed as a Director of Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd. His responsibilities in Sinarmas MSIG Life included sales channel & product portfolio management, budget & profit management, risk management and so forth.

Prior to joining MSI, Mr Yasuda spent 12 years with Deloitte M&A service function in Tokyo and New York. During his tenure, he provided accounting and tax advice, as well as valuation support to his clients including life and non-life insurance companies. He also spent 4 years with E&Y Tokyo in its audit function before joining Deloitte.

Mr Sahil Vachani

Non-executive Director, Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

Mr Sahil Vachani is the CEO & Managing Director of Max Ventures and Industries Limited, one of the three listed companies of the USD 3 billion Indian conglomerate – The Max Group. Max Ventures and Industries Limited is the holding company for Max Estates, a Real Estate development subsidiary, Max Speciality Films, an innovation leader in the Speciality Packaging Films business and Max I, an Investment subsidiary. He also serves as a Director on the Boards of Max Financial Services Limited as a representative of the Owner Sponsor Group led by Mr Analjit Singh.

Mr Sahil Vachani joined the Max Group in 2016 with a focus on creating a powerful Real Estate brand – Max Estates Limited and steering MaxVIL’s other businesses towards growth. Since assuming his role at MaxVIL, Sahil has successfully completed key transactions, which will have an enduring impact on the Company’s growth journey over the next few years.

He started his career as an investment banker with Citigroup in London, where he worked on Mergers and Acquisitions across the Middle East and Africa region. In 2004, he joined Dixon Technologies, a consumer appliance manufacturing firm, as Business Head and set up new verticals across multiple locations and was involved in the launch of new products, setting up new manufacturing facilities, and establishing relationships with leading brands as customers.

His next career progression was in 2008 as the Co-founder and Managing Director of Dixon Appliances Pvt. Ltd., where he was responsible for the development of the business from inception including designing products, building the team, setting up the manufacturing facility, operations and building relationships with leading brands in India such as Panasonic, Godrej, LG, among others. The Company emerged as the single-largest third-party contract manufacturer of Washing Machines for the Indian market. In July 2015, Mr Vachani sold his shareholding in the company to pursue opportunities in the Max Group.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management Sciences from the University of Warwick, UK, backed up by an Executive Management Program on Disruptive Innovation from Harvard Business School.