Alumni News
Alumna Sangeeta Bavi joins Anthropic to lead Startup Growth in India
Sangeeta Bavi (PGSEM 2010) has joined AI research and safety company Anthropic as Head of Digital Natives, Startups and Growth – India, where she will lead the adoption of Claude among Indian startups and growth-stage companies. Her appointment comes as Anthropic accelerates its India expansion, recognising the country’s rapidly evolving AI ecosystem and vibrant startup landscape.
A technology and startup ecosystem leader with over 25 years of experience, Sangeeta has built an impressive career across Microsoft, Nokia, YourStory Media and Seafund. At Microsoft, she played a pivotal role in building the company’s startup business in India and driving enterprise adoption of emerging AI technologies. Most recently, she served as Chief Operating Officer at YourStory, leading operational transformation and strategic growth initiatives.
An alumna of IIM Bangalore’s Post Graduate Programme in Software Enterprise Management (PGSEM) 2010, Sangeeta has often credited the programme with shaping her leadership journey. Speaking as the Chief Guest at the PGPEM inauguration in 2025, she reflected on how IIMB played a defining role in a career spanning more than two decades.
In a LinkedIn post announcing her new role, she described joining Anthropic as “deeply meaningful”, highlighting the opportunity to work with founders building the next generation of AI-powered businesses while advancing the company’s mission of developing AI that is safe and beneficial for humanity.
Brajesh Kumar Singh appointed MD & CEO of Canara Bank
Brajesh Kumar Singh, an alumnus of IIM Bangalore’s Executive Leadership Development Programme (EEP), has been appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Canara Bank, one of India’s largest public sector banks. He assumed charge on 1 June 2026 and will serve until 30 April 2029, succeeding K. Satyanarayana Raju.
A seasoned banker with more than three decades of experience, Brajesh Kumar Singh joins Canara Bank after serving as Executive Director at Indian Bank. Over the course of his career, he has held leadership positions across retail banking, corporate credit, MSME, human resources, business development and strategic operations, in addition to an international assignment in South Africa.
An Agriculture graduate with an MBA in Finance and a Certified Associate of the Indian Institute of Bankers (CAIIB), he has also completed the Executive Leadership Development Programme at IIM Bangalore. His appointment marks another significant milestone for the IIMB alumni community, reflecting the growing presence of its alumni in leadership positions across India’s banking and financial services sector.
Anjani Kumar joins Bharat Semi as Senior Advisor – Strategy & Finance
Anjani Kumar (PGP 1995) has joined Bharat Semi as Senior Advisor – Strategy & Finance, where he will help shape the company’s long-term strategic and financial direction as it expands its presence in India’s fast-growing semiconductor ecosystem.
With an accomplished career spanning investment banking, corporate finance and strategic advisory, Anjani has held leadership roles at organisations including The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), CIMB, ABN AMRO Bank and PwC. Over the years, he has advised businesses on capital strategy, financial planning, operational transformation and long-term growth across global markets.
His appointment comes at a pivotal time for Bharat Semi as the company continues to strengthen India’s semiconductor capabilities and advance innovation at the intersection of hardware and digital technologies. Anjani’s extensive experience in strategy and finance is expected to support the company’s next phase of growth
Anjan Mukherjee (PGP 1989) takes Taraltec to the United Nations Ecosystem
Anjan Mukherjee (PGP 1989) announced a significant milestone for Taraltec, sharing that the company has entered the United Nations ecosystem, marking an important step in expanding the reach of its affordable water purification solutions.
Reflecting on the journey, Anjan described himself as an “accidental entrepreneur”, having built Taraltec as a completely bootstrapped, debt-free enterprise with an initial investment of just a few thousand rupees. Over the years, the company has grown through continuous innovation, earning multiple granted patents while remaining entirely self-funded.
In his announcement, Anjan expressed gratitude to the many individuals who supported the venture in its early years, noting that their encouragement and belief played a crucial role in the company’s growth. Having already benefited more than three million people, particularly in underserved communities, Taraltec’s association with the United Nations ecosystem is expected to further scale its social impact and extend access to safe drinking water.
Ankit Rustagi elevated to Managing Director at Accenture
Ankit Rustagi (PGP 2015) has been elevated to Managing Director at Accenture, where he will lead the firm’s Global Insurance Industry practice within the Global Network for Strategy & Consulting.
Over the years, Ankit has advised leading insurance organisations across the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific on large-scale business transformation, helping them reimagine operating models, embrace digital technologies, optimise costs and harness the potential of AI and Generative AI. In his new role, he will continue to drive strategic transformation initiatives for global clients in one of Accenture’s key industry practices.
An alumnus of both IIM Bangalore and IIT Kanpur, Ankit began his career in investment banking with Deutsche Bank before moving into management consulting. His elevation to Managing Director marks another significant milestone in a career spanning strategy, financial services and technology-led transformation.
Gautham CB completes the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon
Gautham CB (PGPEM 2022), Hospital Director at Fortis Healthcare, successfully completed the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, one of the world’s most scenic marathon courses and a candidate to become Africa’s first Abbott World Marathon Major.
Battling intense heat, high humidity, and severe leg cramps after the 31-kilometre mark, Gautham persevered to complete the 42.195-km race, describing it as a true test of resilience rather than speed. Reflecting on the experience, he noted that some races are measured not by the clock but by the determination to keep moving forward, even when every step feels difficult.
He also acknowledged the encouragement of family and friends, whose support helped him through the most challenging stages of the race. Looking ahead, Gautham hopes to return to Cape Town if the marathon earns its place as the eighth Abbott World Marathon Major, adding another milestone to his long-distance running journey.
