Dhanam BFSI Summit wraps up; Top leaders, prestigious awards shine

The Dhanam BFSI Summit 2024 wrapped up successfully at Le Meridien Kochi, with an engaging day that brought together prominent figures from the banking, financial services, and insurance sectors. Divided into two segments—morning sessions focusing on expert discussions and evening sessions culminating in an awards ceremony—the event provided invaluable insights and recognised outstanding achievements across the industry.

The summit’s morning session set the tone with expert panel discussions, engaging speakers, and a wealth of knowledge shared by industry leaders. The welcome and introductory address was delivered by A. Gopalakrishnan, Senior Partner at K. Venkatachalam Aiyer & Co. and Chair of the Dhanam BFSI Summit Advisory Committee.

The chief guest, RBI Executive Director JK Dash, discussed how technology is reshaping traditional banking practices, while the vision of tech magnate Bill Gates on fintech companies revolutionising the financial landscape was also highlighted.

Experts corner

Investment expert Prashant Jain shared valuable insights on navigating market volatility and emphasised the importance of long-term strategy when investing in the stock market. He advised investors to approach the stock market with the same patient, long-term perspective as they would when investing in gold.

Rohit Mandhotra, Head of Investor Relations at the National Stock Exchange, discussed the increasing participation of younger retail investors, revealing that most retail investors are under 40, a trend expected to make stock investment even more accessible and popular in the future.

Porinju Veliyath, a renowned value investor and CEO of Equity Intelligence, spoke about the importance of long-term value investing and staying committed to investment strategies despite minor market fluctuations.

Keynote speakers and panel discussions

The morning sessions also featured several keynotes. Ganesh Kumar, Independent Director at IDFC First Bank and Former ED at RBI, addressed the role of Artificial Intelligence in banking, focusing on fraud prevention, financial inclusion, and customer relationship management.

Shobhit Mehta, Principal Officer at Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India) Pvt Ltd, presented the topic “GIFT City: An Interesting Investment Opportunity for NRIs”, shedding light on this emerging investment hub.

A panel session on “Smart Investing in a Highly Valued Market: Do’s & Don’ts for Retail Investors” was chaired by Dr. Renjith RG, Associate Director at Geojit Financial Services, and included experts like AK Prabhakar, Investment Specialist & Former Head of Research at IDBI Capital, and Akshay Agarwal, MD of Acumen Capital Market.

The summit offered a series of insightful lectures and discussions on the future of the BFSI sector. PR Ravi Mohan, Chairman of ESAF Small Finance Bank, discussed the mandatory adoption of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) ratings for financial institutions, stressing the growing importance of sustainable business practices.

Vivek Krishna Govind, Senior Partner at Verma & Verma, Chartered Accountants, gave a brief overview of the day’s events.

The glammy second half

The second half of the summit was equally dynamic that began with a welcome address from Dhanam Executive Editor Maria Abraham, who set the stage for the evening sessions. The keynote address for this segment was delivered by KVS Maniyan, Managing Director and CEO of Federal Bank, who shared his insights on the future of the BFSI sector. 

Dr. Swayam Sodha, known as the ‘wonder kid’ of the tech world, shared his perspectives on the intersection of technology and finance, highlighting the rapid evolution of financial services in the digital age. 

Award glow

Before the awards presentation, Jury member Abraham Thariyan explained the award selection process, giving attendees an understanding of the criteria used to recognise excellence in the BFSI sector. The evening concluded with the prestigious awards ceremony, recognising outstanding contributions across various BFSI categories. The following awards were presented:

- Dhanam NBFC of the Year 2024 (Middle Layer) – Indel Money
- Dhanam NBFC of the Year 2024 – Muthoot Finance
- Dhanam Bank of the Year 2024 (Above ₹5 Lakh Crore Business) – Kotak Mahindra Bank
- Dhanam Bank of the Year 2024 (Below ₹5 Lakh Crore Business) – Bank of Maharashtra
- Dhanam Life Insurer of the Year 2024 (Above ₹10,000 Crore New Business Premium) – LIC of India
- Dhanam Life Insurer of the Year 2024 (Below ₹10,000 Crore New Business Premium) – Shriram Life Insurance Company
- Dhanam General Insurer of the Year 2024 – Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company

And that’s a wrap!

The Dhanam BFSI Summit 2024 was a resounding success, offering actionable insights, fostering industry connections, and celebrating excellence in the BFSI sector.