Hiren Singharay

Senior Advisor

Hiren had a long and outstanding career in executive functions, working for four different Banks in three different countries across Asia and Europe. He has extensive experience in business development, governance, credit and people development, gained in multi-cultural international organisations.

India: After acquiring a First Class Masters Degree in Economics, he started as a Management Trainee with State Bank of India (SBI), joining the corporate Banking Group handling Commodity Clients. The Bank then deputed him to their offices in Frankfurt,Germany.ßß

Germany: Hiren worked in the growing Foreign Department of SBI Frankfurt handling trade finance business, before moving on to Corporate Banking Area as a credit analyst, dealing with German clients and financials. His next move was to Continental Illinois Bank in Frankfurt where he managed the Customer Services Area, covering all transactional services of the Chicago based Bank. Later he was responsible for their trade finance business.

UK: Hiren then moved to Citibank in London, joining the Corporate Banking Area, dealing with Commodity clients across Europe, Japan and South Korea. He was selected to join the Capital Markets Group for Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East Africa Division (CEEMEA). Hiren led the expansion of this business into newer territories from Poland, Russia to India and Ivory Coast. In 2001, he was head hunted by Standard Chartered Bank to lead corporate finance and syndications businesses mainly in Africa, Middle East and South Asia, which he led for next 14 years before retiring from full-time employment in 2016.

Strategic, innovative and forward thinking, Hiren has pioneered and led ground-breaking new business activities for Banks: starting with State Bank of India venturing into corporate lending to German clients, later on Citibank moving in to unexplored territories of Eastern Europe, Africa and South Asia. He has been responsible for over 35 countries and is equally comfortable dealing with Corporates, Sovereigns and Financial Institutions in a culturally sensitive manner. In his role in Citibank’s Capital Markets area, he was involved in Mergers & Acquisitions, developing wider investor base. Both as an executive and later as a Supervisory Board Member, he was adept in coaching people, which led to his love for leadership development. He takes a keen interest in credit process and audit as part of his governance role as Board Member, and also has experience of dealing with regulators. Hiren has been a member of the Institute of Exports, reflecting his lifelong association with trade finance. He is also a member of Institute of Directors and Worshipful Company of International Bankers in the City of London. He has been a regular panellist and speaker at various Conferences (IFR, GTR, London Loan Market Association, Afeximbank etc) across the world.