REDWOOD CITY, Calif. and MUMBAI, (March 30, 2015)—Omidyar Network today announced the appointment of Roopa Kudva as an Omidyar Network partner and managing director of Omidyar Network India Advisors. Based in Mumbai, Kudva will oversee Omidyar Network’s investments in India across the firm’s Consumer Internet & Mobile, Education, Financial Inclusion, Governance & Citizen Engagement and Property Rights initiatives. Kudva will join the firm on July 01, 2015, and will report to Omidyar Network Managing Partner Matt Bannick.
“Roopa is an exceptional addition to the Omidyar Network team, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience across a wide range of sectors,” said Bannick. “She will lead a new phase of our India operations by supporting early-stage investments, innovative entrepreneurs, and businesses with deep social impact. We are fortunate to have a leader of her stature and integrity join us.”
Kudva will join Omidyar Network after leaving CRISIL, a global analytical company providing ratings, research, and risk and policy advisory services. She served as managing director and chief executive officer from 2007, having joined the firm in 1992. Under her leadership, CRISIL’s market capitalization grew four-fold and revenues tripled. She steered the company during its transformation from a ratings agency to a global, diversified analytical company, and led several innovative initiatives including the creation of a financial inclusion index for India.
Kudva is a prominent business leader in India. Among several notable citations, she was recognized as the “Outstanding Woman Business Leader of the Year” by CNBC TV18 in 2012 and recently received India Today’s “Corporate Woman Award.”
Kudva is an independent member on the board of directors of Infosys, India’s second largest software firm. She is a member of the primary markets advisory committee of The Securities and Exchange Board of India. She is also a member of the Reserve Bank of India’s External Advisory Committee for evaluating applicants for Payment Bank licenses.
She holds a postgraduate diploma in management from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and is a “distinguished alumnus” of the institute.