M. Damodaran is an influential economist, thought leader, and former government official widely recognized for his high-impact roles in transforming India's financial and regulatory institutions. His career is distinguished by his leadership as the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the chief regulator for India’s financial markets, and for orchestrating arguably the most successful turnaround stories in Indian financial history.
Damodaran’s legacy is built on his success in crisis management and reform. He was appointed Chairman of the Unit Trust of India (UTI) in 2001 to rescue the collapsed institution, which he successfully restored to health. Simultaneously, he led the transformation of the Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI), creating the unique Stressed Assets Stabilisation Fund and facilitating its conversion to a commercial bank. His leadership brought improved corporate governance practices to India’s securities market and introduced the QIP instrument for follow-on offerings.
As a crucial member of many government bodies, he holds the distinction of having been the youngest person ever to serve as Chief Secretary of Tripura in 1992. He presently chairs the Government of India Task Force to set up the Resolution Corporation of India—an instrument to identify and take corrective action about failing institutions. He also served as Joint Secretary of the Banking Division of the Indian Ministry of Finance.
As an ardent speaker, consultant, and founder of Excellence Enablers Private Limited (EEPL), a corporate governance advisory firm, Damodaran shares his valuable insights on corporate governance, India’s economic framework, policies, and public affairs. His expertise is sought by numerous top companies and he is a founding Chairman of the Indian Institute of Management Tiruchirapalli. His presentations are a masterclass in Financial Management, Securities Markets, and Transformational Leadership.
