Page 55 - Banking Finance September 2025

ARTICLE

has a history of promoting generalists from within its ranks, Upskilling Specialists - Equip experts with strategic, mana-
ensuring leadership continuity. However, its specialized ver- gerial, and people leadership training.
ticals (risk, digital banking, etc.) are led by specialists.
Broadening Generalists - Expose generalists to core areas
HDFC Bank - The leadership transition after Aditya Puri's like risk, tech, and compliance for sharper decision-making.
retirement highlighted the importance of specialists.
Sashidhar Jagdishan, the current CEO, has a strong finan- Structured Career Pathways - Enable talent to evolve from
cial background but also possesses generalist experience. specialized roles to enterprise-wide leadership.

ICICI Bank - ICICI follows a balanced approach, where spe- Proven Development Models:
cialists (treasury, risk management heads) are comple- Rotational Programs - ICICI Bank's leadership initiative ro-
mented by generalist leadership at the top.
tates talent across key functions.

What the Data Reveals Cross-Functional Training - SBI equips managers with ex-
The 2023 McKinsey Global Banking Report confirms that posure to both retail and corporate banking.
banks blending specialist-driven innovation with generalist-
led strategy consistently outperform those favouring a single Specialist Leadership Grooming - Kotak Mahindra upskills
leadership style. specialists in regulations and people management for execu-
tive roles.
The Indian Banking Leadership Study (2024) shows 72% of
senior leaders have cross-functional exposure, while 60% Conclusion: Crafting the Perfect Leader-
built deep expertise in specialized roles before stepping into
leadership. ship Blend
The future of Indian banking leadership hinges on a hybrid
A 2024 PwC study highli ghts that generalist-led banks ex- model that fuses the strengths of specialists and general-
cel in adaptability, but those backed by specialist teams in ists. Specialists fuel innovation, ensure regulatory compli-
digital banking and risk management lead in innovation and ance, and drive technical precision, while generalists offer
regulatory compliance. strategic vision, adaptability, and holistic leadership. Banks
that integrate both will be best equipped to navigate digi-
Balancing Expertise and Versatility: tal transformation, regulatory shifts, and customer-centric
innovation which can be achieved by emphasizing in special-
Strengthening Banking Leadership ist driven focus strategy for entry and midlevel leadership
To build a resilient leadership pipeline, banks must blend roles and generalist led strategy for Senior Leadership with
specialist depth with generalist breadth by: cross functional insight.

Axis Mutual Fund launches Nifty500 Quality 50 Index Fund

Axis Mutual Fund has announced the launch of its Nifty500 Quality 50 Index Fund, an open-ended scheme aimed at
providing investors with cost-effective access to 50 high-quality Indian companies. The new fund offer (NFO) opens on
August 21 and closes on September 4.
The fund will be managed by Karthik Kumar and Hitesh Das and benchmarked against the Nifty500 Quality 50 TRI.
The index selects stocks based on key parameters including return on equity, low financial leverage, and consistent
earnings growth, using a disciplined, rules-based methodology that eliminates selection bias.

Axis AMC Managing Director and CEO B. Gopkumar stated that the fund offers a "low-cost, transparent approach to
gaining exposure to India's strongest companies." The fund is targeted at long-term investors seeking resilient per-
formance across market cycles while maintaining simplicity and efficiency through passive investing.

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