Qasl Team

Ajit Dayal

Founder and Member – Portfolio Team

Ajit has over 39 years of experience in asset management and financial research and analysis. He founded Quantum Advisors Private Limited in 1990, an India-based SEBI registered Portfolio Manager, a SEC-registered Investment Adviser, and as a "restricted portfolio manager" in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, Mr. Dayal has worked with leading US and UK financial advisory and asset management firms either as a key member of the executive management team or through the Investment Advisor as a joint venture partner. Full Bio >

I.V. Subramaniam “Subbu” (1996)

Managing Director & Group Head (Equities)

I.V. Subramaniam “Subbu” has over 33 years of experience in the investment management and financial services industry. Since June 2000, Subbu has managed India-dedicated portfolios for Indian clients and since 2005, he has managed India-dedicated portfolios for international clients. Subbu received his Bachelor’s degree in commerce from Osmania University in 1983 and his Law degree from Osmania University in 1986. He is a CFA Charterholder. Full Bio >

Arvind Chari (2004)

Chief Investment Officer

Arvind has over 21 years of experience in tracking the Indian and global economy and as a dealer, analyst and portfolio manager in the Indian fixed income markets. Arvind joined Quantum as a Research Analyst in 2004 to build the fixed income and macroeconomic research function and to help develop fixed income products for Quantum Mutual Fund. In 2010, Arvind helped launch amongst the first open-ended India bond funds for foreign investors. Prior to joining Quantum, Arvind gained two years’ experience at Tower Capital and KJMC Capital Markets as a dealer in the Indian government bond markets. Arvind holds a master’s degree in Commerce and a master’s degree in Management Studies from Mumbai University.

Chirag Mehta (2006)

Chief Investment Officer (QAMC)

Chirag has two decades of experience specializing in alternative investment strategies. He currently manages the Quantum India ESG Equity Fund, a very first ever Indian ESG fund that was built on a proprietary ESG framework. Additionally, he also manages funds in the multi asset, Equity Fund of Funds (manager selection) strategies.

Chirag spearheads Quantum’s efforts in the world of responsible investment and extensively engages with the Government, policymakers and companies to further sustainable finance in Indian markets.

Chirag has been formerly ranked as the 4th best performing Fund Manager in the world under the age of 40 by Citywire in 2017. He is a qualified CAIA (Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst). Academically holds his Master’s in Management Studies in Finance from Mumbai University.

Nilesh Shetty (2022)

Portfolio Manager, Equity

Nilesh Shetty has 19 years of experience in the Indian capital markets as an Analyst and Senior Research Manager. Nilesh joined Quantum AMC in December 2009 and moved to Quantum Advisors in April 2022. In addition to being a portfolio manager, Nilesh is Quantum’s primary analyst for Capital goods, Insurance and Broking. Prior to joining Quantum, Nilesh worked for 2 years at Edelweiss Capital as an analyst. Nilesh received his Masters in Management Studies from Mumbai University in 2003 and is a CFA Charterholder and a Chartered Global Management Accountant having completed CIMA (UK).

Piyush Thakkar (2010)

Chief Executive Officer

Piyush Thakkar has over 25 years of experience across large and mid-sized Indian and Multinational organizations, of which 17 years have been in financial services industry. Piyush joined Quantum as Vice President-Finance in Jun 2010 and was Chief Operating Officer from Oct 2011 - Dec 2020. He was appointed Chief Executive Office in Jan 2021. Prior to joining Quantum, Piyush worked for 3 years at Marsh India as an AVP - Finance. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from Raipur University in 1996 and is a Chartered Accountant qualified from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

Jimmy A Patel (2010)

Managing Director, QAMC

A Chartered Accountant by profession, with a rich experience of nearly 30 years and a "Stellar Performance Award" to his credit, Jimmy sets an exemplary example of excellence. Having served as a Director on the Board of AMFI and SEBI committees, he carries a deep understanding of the various facets and functioning of an Asset Management Company. Always an innovator, with a detailed understanding of compliance guidelines and regulatory requirements, Jimmy has played a key role in creating India’s first totally paperless online investment portal for QAMC. During his previous tenures, Jimmy has worked in various capacities in areas of operations, budgeting, controls & profit planning, corporate restructuring, sales and marketing, and compliance. Jimmy Patel is a Chevening Standard Chartered Financial Services Leadership Fellow having completed the Chevening Standard Chartered Financial Services Leadership Programme at Kings College, London.

Rajendra Thakkar (2009)

Head of Risk Control

Rajendra Thakkar has over 24 years of experience in Operations, Accounting, Auditing and Client Servicing. Rajendra joined Quantum Group in 2009 and was leading the Operations team of Quantum Asset Management Co. Pvt Ltd till January 2012. He has been appointed as Head- Risk Control of Quantum Advisors Pvt. Ltd. from February 2012 onwards to manage Risk function at an Enterprise level. Prior to joining Quantum, he has worked with Edelweiss Asset Management Ltd as Head - Operations. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from Mumbai University in 1994 and is a Chartered Accountant qualified from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

Tehsin Lakkadghat (2008)

Head - Accounts & Finance

Tehsin Lakkadghat has over 17 years of Experience in the field of Corporate Accounting & Finance. Her previous work experience includes heading the Accounts Division of Trimax IT Infrastructure & Services Ltd where she was responsible for Accounts, Finance & Statutory Compliance. She received her Bachelor’ of Commerce from Mumbai University in 2002, is a Qualified Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and is a Qualified Certified Public Accountant (CPA) from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

Ketav Chaphekar (2019)

Head – Compliance, Legal & Secretarial

Ketav is responsible for overseeing the Compliance, Legal & Secretarial function at Quantum Advisors and is the designated as Chief Compliance Officer. Ketav holds post-graduate degree in Commerce (with major in Accountancy) from University of Mumbai (1997), is an Associate member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India and a Graduate of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India. Ketav has overall 24 years’ experience of which, 22 years related to the Investment Management industry. Prior to joining Quantum, he has worked with IDFC Asset Management and Franklin Templeton Investments (India).

Sulekha Chaudhary

Head – Human Resources

Sulekha has overall 32 years’ of experience of which, 26 years in Human Resource Management. She has managed HR in different industrial verticals such as Engineering, Petrochemicals, ITES and Hospitality, out of which she has headed Human Resource Function in Jost’s Engineering Ltd, JSM Corporation and Ubisoft Entertainment. She received her Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management from University of Pune in 1995.

Afrid Wadia (2013)

Head of Operations

Afrid Wadia has over 21 years of experience in financial services industry spanning Operations, Fund Administration, Quality & ISO, Client Servicing. Prior to joining Quantum, Afrid worked with Wipro as Head of Operations. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from Mumbai University in 1997 and Masters in Management Studies (MMS) from Mumbai University in 2000. He began his career in Indian Capital Markets with the Bombay Stock Exchange.