Ujjivan - Providing Financial Services to the Poor

Leadership Spotlight: Mr. Vikram Jetley

Vikram Jetley, is a retail banker with diverse experience across geographies. Vikram is a management graduate from the FORE School of Management, New Delhi. He was part of the first batch of graduates from FORE and was a rank holder. He began his career at Videocon International Ltd as a Management Trainee. He then moved to HDFC Bank as Regional Manager -Direct Sales & Priority Banking, North India. Vikram was part of the team that included Ujjivan CEO Samit Ghosh, and Gautam Gan, now COO- Ujjivan East, who were at HDFC Bank during the inception of the bank’s retail operations. He has also held strategic positions in marketing and distribution in banks like IDBI Bank, National Bank of Oman (in Oman/UAE/Egypt). Vikram’s last assignment was with Development Credit Bank Ltd., where he was a Vice-President and held the dual responsibilities of being the Zonal Head for the West and National Sales Head – Liabilities. At

Vikram inaugurating a Center Leader Function along with a customer

Development Credit Bank, was instrumental in doubling the Retail Deposit Book size in less than 3yrs.

Vikram had been always influenced by Mr. Ghosh and Mr. Gan. Vikram was inspired by Mr.Ghosh’s vision and commitment to serve the poor, when Mr.Ghosh, at the peak of his career, took up the challenge of providing financial services to the under-served urban and semi urban poor in India and founded Ujjivan in 2005. Ujjivan’s progress increased Vikram’s admiration for Samit Ghosh.

Of the four regions that Ujjivan operates in, the North region was the most difficult, as the concept of Microfinance had not proliferated to the masses. This had made a lot of MFIs stay away from the North. However, in-line with Ujjivan’s mission, the senior team at Ujjivan decided to set up operations in the North, as the poor genuinely lacked access to financial services. Mr. Ghosh expressed his trust in Vikram and offered him an opportunity to take up the challenge of managing Ujjivan’s operations in the North. Vikram gladly accepted the offer and came on board as COO of the North region.

Vikram is a strong believer in transparency and simplicity. He continues to encourage his team to cut the hierarchy culture and work in an open and transparent manner. He also believes in leading from the front. Vikram aspires to set an example to the team by being the first to adhere to any new policy or guideline. He believes in the spirit of a participatory democracy and encourages conscious participation from his team. Though he is new to the Ujjivan family, he is proud of the progress that the North region has made since he joined. He looks forward to Ujjivan being the best MFI of India.