Madhabi Puri Buch is an Indian financial services professional and the current Chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). She is the first woman and first person from the private sector to lead SEBI, India’s capital markets regulator. She assumed office on March 1, 2022, succeeding Ajay Tyagi.
Early Life and Education
Madhabi Puri Buch completed her education at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics. She later pursued a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A), one of India’s premier business schools.
Career
Early Career in Banking and Financial Services
Buch has had an extensive career in financial services, particularly in banking and capital markets. She spent a significant part of her career at ICICI Bank, where she held several leadership positions. She was also the Executive Director at ICICI Securities, the investment banking arm of ICICI Bank.
She later worked with Greater Pacific Capital, a private equity firm based in London, and was the CEO of Singapore-based Agora Advisory, a financial consultancy firm.
SEBI and Regulatory Role
Before becoming SEBI Chairperson, Buch served as a Whole-Time Member (WTM) of SEBI from 2017 to 2021, overseeing market regulation, surveillance, and cybersecurity policies. Her tenure at SEBI has been marked by a strong emphasis on technology-driven regulation, digital transformation, and investor protection.
As SEBI Chairperson, she has introduced several reforms in India's capital markets, including:
Enhancing market transparency and governance
Strengthening IPO regulations to protect retail investors
Introducing stricter rules for mutual funds and alternative investment funds
Focusing on technology-driven surveillance and AI-based fraud detection
Impact and Legacy
Buch's tenure at SEBI has been characterized by a proactive regulatory approach, investor protection measures, and modernization of market infrastructure. Her leadership has positioned SEBI as a more tech-savvy and data-driven regulatory body, ensuring fair and transparent market practices.
Personal Life
Madhabi Puri Buch is known for her strong analytical approach, technological focus, and deep understanding of capital markets. She maintains a low public profile but is widely respected in financial circles for her expertise and leadership.
See Also
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
ICICI Bank
Financial Regulation in India
References
(Links to government notifications, SEBI reports, and official sources would be included in a real Wikipedia article.)
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