HRM / OB Case Study

Chanda Kochhar as the CEO of ICICI Bank: Can She Manage the Mandate?

OR

Abstract:
In the male-dominated world of Indian financial institutions, are women at the helm still a rarity? At the dawn of the new millennium, India celebrates the remarkable progress of women in business. Women made great strides in boardrooms and courtrooms, on screen and in society and are regularly featured on the cover pages of business magazines. Indian women today attack the so-called glass ceiling to emerge to the top of the corporate ladder.

No other institution is epochal to this trend than ICICI bank. The leading private sector bank of the country is never bereft of women in senior management. Beginning with Lalita Gupte, the group has many women executives – Kalpana Morparia, Shikha Sharma, Chanda Kochhar (Kochhar) and Renuka Ramnath. Though the legendary CEO, K.V. Kamath groomed the next generation leaders – Vishakha Mulye and Madhabi Puri-Buch, it is Kochhar who made news as his successor.

In the backdrop of the changing role of women in the Indian corporate sector, this case study presents Kochhar’s new role as the managing director and CEO of ICICI Bank. Highlighting Kochhar’s invaluable contributions to the evolution and growth of the company, the case study delves into her stint in successfully running various divisions of the bank and her leadership qualities in handling banking operations during tough times. It offers many intriguing issues to debate on – whether Kochhar is the right choice to succeed K.V. Kamath, her capabilities that gave her edge over other contenders, role of women in business, particularly in sectors like banking and finance, abilities of women vs men in leading organisations.

Pedagogical Objectives:

• To analyse the capabilities of women in donning various roles across the Indian corporate sector
• To discuss Chanda Kochhar’s innovations and credentials at ICICI Bank that helped her rise to the top
• To critically examine the succession planning at ICICI Bank and choice of Chanda Kochhar as the right successor of K.V. Kamath
• Debate on the timing of Chanda Kochhar taking charge as the new CEO amid ongoing global financial turmoil and also analyse her strategies in addressing those challenges.

Keywords : Human Resource Management, Gender Diversity, ICICI Bank, Chanda Kochhar, K V Kamat, Succession Planning, CEO, Glass Ceiling, Shikha Sharma, Wayne Brockbank