Who is SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch: Details about her early life, education and career

Born in 1966, Madhabi Puri Buch has had a notable impact on the Indian financial sector as the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairperson. Her selection as SEBI's first female chairwoman, youngest person ever, and, most significantly, the first person from the business sector, made history on March 1, 2022. Her broad experience includes executive positions at Greater Pacific Capital LLP and consulting for the New Development Bank, among other domestic and international venues.
Throughout her tenure, Buch—who is renowned for her determination to bring about changes and improve SEBI's effectiveness—has made a point of modernising the agency. She and her spouse have vehemently refuted the accusations made by Hindenburg Research, which has put her in the spotlight recently. They have clarified the nature of their investments and claimed that all relevant disclosures have been made.

Madhabi Puri Buch, born in 1966, serves as the Chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), making history as the first woman to hold this position.
Since April 2017, Buch has worked closely with former SEBI Chairperson Ajay Tyagi as a Whole Time Member. Her appointment to SEBI's top role is notable as she is the first individual from the private sector to assume this position. As Chairperson, Buch has been recognized for driving significant reforms and enhancing the efficiency of SEBI through rapid changes and the corporatization of the organisation.

Madhabi Puri Buch was born in 1966 to Kamal Puri and his wife. Her father had a career in the corporate sector, while her mother was an academic with a doctorate in political science. At eighteen, she became engaged to Dhawal Buch, a director at the multinational FMCG company Unilever. They married when she was 21 and later had a son, Abhay. Buch attributes much of her success to the support of her husband and son, describing them as her sources of strength and guidance.
Notably, Buch was a survivor of the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks. At the time, she was with her husband at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, where he was attending a Unilever meeting.

Madhabi Puri Buch's educational journey began at Fort Convent School in Mumbai and continued at the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Delhi. She earned her undergraduate degree in Mathematics from St. Stephen's College, Delhi, before pursuing an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad.

Buch's career began in 1989 at ICICI Bank, where she spent 17 years, including a 12-year tenure as Executive Director and a role as Managing Director and CEO of ICICI Securities from February 2009 to May 2011. Her roles at ICICI also included contributions to ICICI Web Trade Ltd and ICICI HFC Ltd. After leaving ICICI, she moved to Singapore in 2011, joined Greater Pacific Capital LLP, and later founded Agora Advisory Pvt Ltd.
Her international experience includes serving as a consultant for the New Development Bank in Shanghai and holding executive roles at various firms, including Idea Cellular, Max Healthcare, Zensar Technologies, Innoven Capital, and Gabelhorn Investments.

As SEBI Chairperson, Buch has been recognized for her efforts in driving reforms and enhancing organisational efficiency. Her appointment was historic, being the first woman and the first person from the private sector to lead SEBI. Prior to her role as Chairperson, she served as a Whole Time Member at SEBI, overseeing critical departments such as Market Regulation, Investment Management, and IT.
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