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INVESTMENT ADVISORY TEAM

Successful investment companies are built on the foundation of clear thinking, intellectual honesty, even temperament and teamwork. This can be achieved only when passionate, capable and rational people, with unquestionable integrity, come together to work in a meritocratic environment.

Sumeet Nagar is the founder of Malabar, and as Portfolio Manager, remains the head of the Investment team. Prior to joining Holding Capital group and establishing Malabar, he was a consultant at McKinsey & Company where he was a founding member of its dedicated private equity group. Sumeet is a graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, and earned an MBA degree in Finance and Entrepreneurial Management from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (USA).

MANAGING PARTNER

Sumeet Nagar
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Akshay Mansukhani has a dual focus at Malabar, heading both Business Development and Risk Management. Prior to joining Malabar in 2009, he worked at UBS Investment Bank, New York,  where he focused on structured products as part of equity capital markets. Akshay received his BSE and MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (USA), where he was selected as a Joseph Wharton Scholar. He is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst.

MANAGING PARTNER

Akshay Mansukhani 
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Ashish Gulati is a Partner at Malabar, and has been with the firm since its inception. As the Head of Research, he has played a vital role in creating investment processes and setting up the research team. Prior to Malabar, Ashish was responsible for analysing investment opportunities at SBI Capital Markets, where he was part of the proprietary investment group that oversaw an equity and debt portfolio. Ashish graduated from Mumbai University with a degree in Engineering, and earned an MBA degree from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur.

HEAD OF RESEARCH

Ashish Gulati
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Ketan Shah joined Malabar in March 2019, as Chief Operating Officer. His role is to oversee Operations, Back office, Audit, Compliance, General administration, IT, and HR related activities. Prior to joining Malabar, Ketan was an Executive Director and member of India Management Committee of Morgan Stanley Fund Services, an independent fund administrator for hedge funds. Ketan is a member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India ("ICAI") and The Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India ("ICWA").

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Ketan Shah
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Rajat Mahajan joined Malabar in 2016. Prior to Malabar, Rajat worked at Synergy Advisory, focusing on financial advisory transactions in the infrastructure sector. Rajat graduated from National Institute Of Technology, Durgapur with a degree in Engineering, and earned an MBA from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

INVESTMENTS

Rajat Mahajan
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Dhruva Mukherjee joined Malabar in 2017. Before Malabar, he worked as an Associate at Kalaari Capital, an early-stage VC fund, where he was responsible for deal evaluation across various sectors, and portfolio management. Dhruva completed his undergraduate degree at Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, and earned an MBA at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

INVESTMENTS

Dhruva Mukherjee
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Bhavesh Dalal joined Malabar in 2023 as a member of the investment team, focusing on primary research. Prior to joining Malabar Bhavesh worked as a consultant at Asset Management firms TenCore Partners and Ruane Cunniff in the primary research space. Bhavesh graduated from KPB Hinduja College (University of Mumbai) with a commerce degree, and earned an MBA in Finance at the K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management, University of Mumbai.

RESEARCH

Bhavesh Dalal
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Rohan Rai joined Malabar in 2015 as a member of the Business Development team. Prior to Malabar, he was with the HSBC for over 7 years, where he worked in multiple roles including Strategy & Planning, Investment Advisory, and Relationship Management. Rohan graduated from Mumbai University with a degree in Engineering, and earned his MBA from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

INVESTOR RELATIONS

Rohan Rai
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Gauri Pande Chanchani joined Malabar in 2021 as a member of the Business Development team. Prior to Malabar, she was with Morgan Stanley Asset Management for 15 years where she worked in several roles, including as a trader on their equity desk, a portfolio specialist for international funds investing in India, and finally as COO. Gauri is a member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and is a CFA Charterholder.

INVESTOR RELATIONS

Gauri Pande Chanchani
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Farah Mahava joined Malabar in 2018 as a consultant to the Business Development team. She formerly worked as a fund manager covering the Asia Pacific region, at Sanlam Multi-Manager International (London), and prior to that, was a member of the private client team with Deloitte Wealth Management in London. Farah graduated with a Management Studies degree from the University of Nottingham (UK), and has passed all three levels of the CFA Program.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Farah Mahava
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Naveen Bhather joined Malabar in 2014. Prior to joining Malabar he worked with Fidelity International Limited and L&T Investment Management in operational roles; he was responsible for trade settlement, cash flow management, performance tracking, and acted as a liaison between the custodian and brokers. Naveen graduated with a degree in Commerce from Ajmer University, and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India ("ICAI")

 

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OPERATIONS AND COMPLIANCE

Naveen Bhather
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Jhanvi Bhanushali joined Malabar in 2023. Prior to joining Malabar she worked with Purnartha Investment Advisors and KFIN Technologies in operational roles; she was responsible for investor services, investor & fund on-boarding, fund accounting, fund operations, and setting up new investment vehicles. Jhanvi has also worked with SS&C GlobeOp and BNP Paribas Fund Services in the Fund Accounting and Administration space. Jhanvi graduated with a degree in Commerce from Mumbai University and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (“ICAI”).

OPERATIONS MANAGER

Jhanvi Bhanushali
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Cherylanne Desouza has been with Malabar since it was founded in 2008. Prior to joining Malabar, Cherylanne worked with India Today Magazine (India), Birla Group of Companies (India), King Fahad National Guard Hospital (Riyadh), SwissBoring (Oman) and Prologix Logistics (Canada).

OFFICE MANAGER

Cherylanne Desouza
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Nilesh Phondke joined Malabar in 2014 to support the Business Development team. Prior to joining Malabar, he was Manager of Human Resources at Baldota Institute, which is a part of Global Hospitals. Nilesh graduated with a degree in Commerce from Mumbai University, and earned his Diploma in HR from Welingkar Institute.

INVESTOR COMMUNICATIONS

Nilesh Phondke 
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Pratiksha Kotian joined Malabar in 2022 with a dual focus of supporting Investor Services and Office Administration. Prior to joining Malabar, she worked as an Executive Assistant at Jet Airways and its subsidiary, Filmstoc. Pratiksha graduated from Mumbai University with a Masters in Management Studies (Human Resources).

OFFICE ADMINISTRATION

Pratiksha Kotian
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"Surround yourself with people that push you to do better. No drama no negativity. Just higher goals and motivation. Good times and positive energy. No jealousy or hate. Simply bringing out the best in each other."
- Warren Buffett
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