Ajay Banga Wiki, Age, Wife, Family, Net worth, Biography & More

Wiki/Biography

Ajay Banga is a well-known Indian-born American business executive who has held several high-ranking posts in many global companies. He is a man who has made a name for himself in the world of business and has been making headlines for his recent nomination as a candidate for the Presidency of the World Bank by US President Joe Biden. Born on November 10, 1959, in Khadki Cantonment, Pune, Maharashtra, India, Ajaypal Singh Banga is a Scorpio by zodiac sign.

He completed his schooling at St. Edward’s School in Shimla and Hyderabad Public School in Hyderabad. In 1976, he moved to Delhi, where he pursued a bachelor’s degree in arts with honors in economics from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University. Later, he enrolled in the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA), where he earned a master’s degree in business administration. He was the topper of his class at IIM.

Ajay Banga’s Career:

Ajay Banga’s career began in India, where he worked for Nestle India and rose to the position of Senior Manager. He then joined PepsiCo where he held several positions including Vice President and General Manager of PepsiCo South Asia. In 2000, he joined Citigroup where he worked for over a decade in various positions including CEO of Citigroup Asia Pacific.

In 2010, Banga was appointed as the President and CEO of Mastercard, where he has been credited with transforming the company into a leading technology company. During his tenure, Mastercard’s market capitalization grew more than seven-fold, and the company expanded its operations in several countries.

Ajay Banga’s Achievements:

Ajay Banga’s achievements are impressive and numerous. He has been recognized as one of the top 100 CEOs in the world by Harvard Business Review and one of the best-performing CEOs by Harvard Business Review and Glassdoor. In 2016, he was awarded the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honors, for his contributions to trade and industry.

Ajay Banga’s Nomination for the Presidency of the World Bank

Ajay Banga’s nomination for the Presidency of the World Bank by US President Joe Biden has been met with great enthusiasm and support from his colleagues and the business community. If elected, Banga would become the first Indian to head the World Bank.

Banga’s experience in leading and transforming companies, his expertise in finance, and his commitment to sustainable development make him a strong candidate for the position. He has also been a strong advocate for financial inclusion, gender equality, and education, issues that are critical to the World Bank’s mission.

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 10″

Hair Colour: Salt and Pepper

Eye Colour: Light Brown

Family

Parents & Siblings

His father, Harbhajan Singh Banga, was a retired lieutenant general of the Indian Army. He passed away on 22 December 2011.

His mother’s name is Jaswant Banga. His brother, Manvinder Singh Banga (aka Vindi), is a business executive. He has a sister named Deepa.

Wife & Children

His wife, Ritu Banga, is the co-founder of Zoomdojo, a consulting firm.

His daughter, Aditi Banga, is the Head of Creator Monetization & Innovation Partnerships at Instagram and is a Harvard University graduate. His daughter, Jojo Banga, is also a Harvard University graduate.

Religion

Ajay Banga follows Sikhism.

Caste

Ajay Banga was born into a Punjabi Sikh family belonging to the Saini caste, which falls under the Other Backward Class (OBC) category.

Address

He resides at 200 62nd Street, New York, NY 10021, the United States of America (USA).

Signature/Autograph

Career

Ajay Banga is an inspiration to many young professionals who aspire to make it big in their careers. He started his career with Nestlé India in 1981 and climbed the corporate ladder through his hard work and dedication. In this blog, we will take a closer look at his career journey and the key takeaways that can help you in your own career. Early career at Nestlé India Ajay Banga began his career with Nestlé India in New Delhi in 1981.

He was initially hired as a management trainee and worked in various marketing and general management departments. He quickly rose through the ranks and was promoted to the position of branch manager in Kolkata. During his thirteen-year stint at Nestlé India, Ajay Banga gained valuable experience in sales, marketing, and general management. He also developed a strong understanding of the Indian market and consumer behavior. This experience would prove to be invaluable in his later career. Move to PepsiCo After working with Nestlé India for thirteen years, Ajay Banga decided to move on and joined PepsiCo in Delhi.

He joined the company at a time when India was going through economic liberalization, and the market was opening up for foreign companies. At PepsiCo, Ajay Banga worked as the director of marketing for PepsiCo Restaurants in India. This role gave him exposure to the fast-paced world of food and beverage retail and helped him build critical skills in brand management, product development, and customer service. Citigroup and the Asia-Pacific region

In 1996, Ajay Banga joined Citigroup, one of the world’s largest financial services companies. He was appointed as the CEO of the Asia-Pacific region, where he was responsible for overseeing the company’s operations in over 20 countries. During his tenure at Citigroup, Ajay Banga held several key positions in senior leadership and executive committees.

He was able to leverage his experience in marketing and general management to drive growth and expansion in the Asia-Pacific region. Move to Mastercard In 2009, Ajay Banga joined Mastercard Inc. in the United States as its president. This move marked a significant shift in his career, as he transitioned from the world of banking and financial services to the payments industry. At Mastercard, Ajay Banga was instrumental in driving the company’s growth and expanding its reach into new markets. He also spearheaded several initiatives to promote financial inclusion and digital payments.

The former President of the United States, Barack Obama, appointed him as a member of the President’s Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations in 2015. Thereafter, he served as a member of the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity, established by the U. S. government. In 2017, he co-founded The Cyber Readiness Institute. Later, he represented more than 300 multinational companies on the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) as its chairman.

In July 2021, Banga was appointed to BeyondNetZero, established by the General Atlantic, as a member of its advisory board. Ajay has regularly attended the conferences held by FinTech. Later, he was appointed to the New York Hall of Science’s board of trustees as its vice chairman. On 1 January 2022, he joined the American-based private equity firm General Atlantic as its vice president. He has also worked as the chairman of Exor, a company from the Netherlands. Later, the United States government appointed him as the chairman of the Partnership for Central America. There, he worked with Vice President Kamala Harris. On 24 February 2023, President Joe Biden recommended Ajay Banga’s name for the position of President of the World Bank Group. Ajay has also worked with Craft Foods, Dow Ink, and the American Red Cross as a member of the board. Ajay became the first Indian-American to be recommended to the World Bank for its Presidency. In an interview, while talking about it, Joe Biden said,

“Ajay is uniquely equipped to lead the World Bank at this critical moment in history. He has spent more than three decades building and managing successful, global companies that create jobs and bring investment to developing economies, and guiding organizations through periods of fundamental change. He has a proven track record managing people and systems, and partnering with global leaders around the world to deliver results.”

His nomination by the United States government was supported by India.

Awards, Honours

• Ajay Banga received the Foreign Policy Association Medal in 2012.

• In 2016, the Government of India awarded him India’s fourth-highest civilian award, the Padma Shri.

  

  A photo of Ajay Banga receiving the Padma Shri from President Pranab Mukherjee

• In 2019, he received the Global Indian of the Year title from the Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence.

• The Singapore government awarded him the Distinguished Friends of Singapore Public Service Star in 2021.

• Business Council for International Understanding awarded him the Leadership Award.

  

  Ajay Banga with his Leadership Award

• The Ellis Island Honors Society (EIHS) presented him Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Income

Ajay Banga’s income as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mastercard was Rs 5.2 million per day.

Net Worth

Some sources claim that his net worth is estimated to be around $143 million, while some sources claim that his net worth is approximately $1.2 billion. According to CNBC and WION, as of 2021, his net worth is $206 million (Rs 17 billion).

Favorites:

• Basketball Team: New York Mets

• Singer: Lady Gaga, Elvis Presley

• Song: Paparazzi by Lady Gaga