Our leadership team

Find out more about our team members below

Management Team

Anjan Dasgupta

Managing Director

Anjan Dasgupta

Managing Director

Anjan Dasgupta is a Finance and Banking expert now heading ASA International India Microfinance Limited as Managing Director. Before joining ASA International, he successfully managed a number of large co-operative banks, As Managing Director of an Urban Cooperative Bank in Sikkim, he innovated banking to include Micro-finance, livelihood development schemes and financial inclusion. The projects were identified as model schemes by the Reserve Bank of India and highlighted in the report of RBI’s committee for financial inclusion in the North East. The schemes were recommended by RBI to other banks for replication. He also has a successful record of transforming a start-up Society in Bihar engaged in Microfinance into a NBFC. During one year he was able to help the start-up scale-up and achieve the status of largest “Bihar State Grown” MFI. In addition, he brought international equity investment to invest in this start-up MFI at a sizable premium.

Saibal Mitra

Head of Finance and Treasury

Saibal Mitra

Head of Finance and Treasury

Mr. Mitra supervises the management of funds and interactions with the lenders besides undertaking initiatives on matters of insurance and advocating banking solutions. With an engineering background from Jadavpur University, Mr. Mitra obtained an MBA from IISWBM (Calcutta University) before completing an Executive Program in Social Entrepreneurship (EPSE) from Stanford University (Graduate School of Business). Demonstrating exceptional versatility throughout his career, he has enjoyed success as a project engineer, consultant and banker. Following his MBA, Mr. Mitra has gathered more than two decades of work experience, during which he spent 15 years in the ME and SME segments in banking. Previously, Mr. Mitra was employed at Standard Chartered Bank where he served in different capacities as Senior Credit Manager, Regional Credit Manager, as well as Head of Credit (SME) in Bangladesh. Prior to that, he had worked for HDFC Bank, Global Trust Bank and PricewaterhouseCoopers, which saw him engaged in international assignments for ABD, DfID, OECD and the Government of Bhutan, alongside catering to national clients.

Shubhashis Paul

General Manager Finance

Shubhashis Paul

General Manager Finance

Mr. Paul has completed his Bachelor’s in Commerce and also is a qualified Cost & Management Accountant with Associate Membership with the ‘Institute for Cost and Management Accountants of India as well as being a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certified in the USA. Mr. Paul operates and oversees the banking operations and interactions with lenders and manages procedures for MFI Grading and Credit Rating. He has 11 years of experience in the microfinance sector - out of which 8 at ASA International India, and has also served 11 years in the banking industry.

Manoj Acharya

Chief Technology Officer

Manoj Acharya

Chief Technology Officer

Mr. Acharya is responsible for new technologies and systems as the Chief Technology Officer. Having completed his Master’s in Computer Application, he is a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCT- Global Certification) with more than ten years of experience in working for ASA International India, a total of twelve years of experience in the microfinance industry as well as two years of relevant expertise in other corporate sectors.

Suvankar Mondal

Chief Information Officer

Suvankar Mondal

Chief Information Officer

Mr. Mondal is responsible for the emerging technologies and digital trends in consonance with the company’s IT vision and roadmap. A graduate of B.Com (Hons.) from Calcutta University, he is a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist and also has an Intel Certificate of Recognition from Intel Technology India Pvt. Ltd. Previously, Mr. Mondal has served as Senior System Engineer at Cyber Works (HP authorized service provider), as Supervisor of Computer Operations at ABIS Software Pvt. Ltd. as well as an IT expert at the Indian Institute of Hardware Technology, Kolkata.

Nabarun Biswas

Assistant Manager HR & Admin

Nabarun Biswas

Assistant Manager HR & Admin

Mr. Nabarun Biswas is a HR specialist with 9 years of experience in the sector. By qualification, he has an MBA in Human Resource Management and having a degree in Law (LLB). He joined ASA India in May 2019 as Assistant Manager – HR & Admin. His specialization is in HR – payroll & operations and Labour Compliances across different sectors like IT, HR Audit & Compliances.

Vanita Mundhra

Company Secretary

Vanita Mundhra

Company Secretary

Ms. Mundhra is a commerce graduate with over 14 years of experience in different sectors, including 3.5 years’ experience in leading an NBFC –MFI based out of Kolkata, as well as working for Arohan Financial Services Limited, Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Limited, Uniworth Group, and Dalmia Securities Private Limited. She brings along with her expertise of handling due diligences, equity infusions, IPO preparations and compliance pertaining to RBI and MCA21. At ASA India she will be responsible for the overall compliance of the company, handling investor relations and providing legal support for financial transactions that the company undertakes in the future.

Dipak Kumar Ray

Head Of Institutional Relationship

Dipak Kumar Ray

Head Of Institutional Relationship

Mr Dipak Kumar Ray joined Asa India on April 1, 2022, as Head of Institutional Relationship. During his 36 year's long banking career he has gained experience in various areas of banking operations such as Project Financing, Resources Mobilization, Agri-Processing including MFI/SME& Micro-Lending, Recovery Resolutions, NPA Management, and more. In addition, he also has exposure in NBFC-MFI for more than 7 years. Besides completing M.COM, LLB and CAIIB, during his long career in banking he has also pursued professional courses at the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance (IIBF) in Wealth Management, Treasury, Investment & Risk Management, International Banking & Finance, Micro Finance, Home Loan Advising, and more.

Partha Mukherje

General Manager Operations

Partha Mukherje

General Manager Operations

Mr Partha Mukherjee graduated from BHU with an MBA from IISWBM Kolkata. He is an Alumnus of IIM Calcutta, where he successfully completed a long duration Advanced Program in Fintech and Financial Blockchain and PG Diploma in Foreign Trade Management from IEM Calcutta. He has over 26 years of experience across a wide range of areas including Business Strategy Planning, Leadership, Financial Inclusion, Rural Marketing etc. He has previously worked with eminent organizations like Parle Agro Ltd, Idea Cellular Ltd, Sosaco Nigeria Limited, ICICI Bank ,SKS Microfinance, NCDEX-e markets Ltd, Satin Creditcare Ltd and Arohan Financial services limited. His last assignment was with Taraashna Financial Services Limited as a Chief Executive Officer and whole-time Director.

Swati Singh

Manager - Sustainability

Swati Singh

Manager - Sustainability

Ms Swati Singh, a core CSR & ESG professional, joined ‘ASA India’ on 1st November, 2022. She carries an experience of more than 4 years in the field of CSR and had been associated with large & mid-sized MFIs in Eastern India before joining ASA. She also ran her own project especially dedicated to improve health & hygiene of underserved women. Recently, she has been awarded a ‘Certificate of Completion’ on ESG from ICMAI. She has a Master in ‘Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship’ from Tata Institute of Social Sciences ‘TISS’ and was awarded a Silver Medal for her exceptional work in research and academics.

Board of Directors

Mohammed Azim Hossain

Azim Hossain assumed the role of Chief of Operations ('CO') of ASA International in July 2023, having served as the Group's Director of Investment, Treasury and Risk Management since 2005. Mr Hossain has over 34 years of experience in the microfinance industry, having worked for 20 years at ASA NGO Bangladesh, where he held various positions including Director of Finance & MIS and Senior Finance Professional. At ASA Bangladesh, Mr Hossain established the finance and MIS systems, was involved in the development and design of the AMMS, assisted in the establishment of risk management frameworks and was in charge of the NGO Partnership Programme, providing technical and financial assistance to microfinance institutions. He has also worked with the UNDP MicroStart programme in the Philippines and Nigeria, where he was responsible for development, products and services, financial management, performance analysis and business planning.

Karin Kersten

Ms Kersten is the Chief Executive Officer of ASA International. She joined the Group Executive Committee as Corporate Development Director in October 2021. She previously worked for ABN AMRO Bank, where she had a distinguished career, most recently as Managing Director, Trade & Commodity Finance. Ms Kersten is a member of the Supervisory Board of Mondriaan Fonds and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Mondriaan Fonds. She is also a member of the selection committee of Hotelschool The Hague.

Dirk Brouwer

Dirk Brouwer co-founded ASA International in 2007 and has since served as the company’s Executive Director. He is also the Managing Director of Catalyst Microfinance Investors, which he co-founded in 2006. With over 20 years of experience in investment banking, and 11 in microfinance, he has held several senior and supervisory positions, having acted as a board member of CMI and Founder and Managing Director of Sequoia which he founded in 2002. Prior to this, he spent 14 years working at Merrill Lynch and PaineWebber.

Md. Enamul Haque

Md. Enamul Haque joined the Group's Centre of Expertise in July 2023, having served as Chief Operating Officer of ASA International Group plc for 15 years. In addition, he is a board member of three of the Group’s microfinance institutions. Mr Haque has over 38 years of experience in the (international) microfinance industry. He is one of the Founders and former Chairman of Credit and Development Forum in Bangladesh. Between 1987 and 2008 he served in various leadership and management level positions within ASA NGO Bangladesh, where he led the partnership program providing technical and capacity building services and has worked as a consultant for many (international) organizations such as Save the Children (USA)-Jordan, Plan International-Bangladesh and UNDP MicroStart Program-Philippines. Prior to working for ASA NGO Bangladesh, he operated as a Field Coordinator for nine years at Proshika Human Development Center.

Anjan Dasgupta

Anjan Dasgupta is an ex-officio member of the Board of ASA India by virtue of his position as Managing Director.

Nirajita Srinivasan

Ms Nirajita Srinivasan was appointed Non-Executive Independent Director of ASA India on 28 July 2021. She is currently an independent consultant for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and an advisor for a website-based international consultancy focused on development banking, Government, schemes for MSME, and policy issues. Previously, she worked as a business advisor for the West Bengal Financial Cooperation for approximately one year. She has over 38 years of experience in the field of development banking, both at micro and macro levels. From 1990 onwards, she worked in various capacities and geographies in India for the Small Industries Development Bank of India, retiring as the General Manager in 2016, where she amongst others implemented a multilateral SME financing and development project under the aegis of the World Bank. Prior to that, from 1978 till 1990, she worked for the Industrial Development Bank of India.

Anuradha Gupta

Ms. Anuradha Gupta has been appointed as a Non Executive, Independent Director on 23 September 2021. Currently, Ms. Gupta is also employed at the Credit Rating Agency Brickwork Ratings India Pvt. Ltd as Director-Ratings at their Kolkata office. She has over 37 years of experience in the field of banking. She retired as Chief General Manager from State Bank of India, after working in various capacities in the areas of Retail Banking, International Banking, Corporate Banking and Wholesale Banking both in India, and abroad, a.o. New York. She also worked at West Bengal Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation Ltd. Kolkata for 5 years as Head Credit and Investment.

Patric Barla

Mr Patric Barla, former Chief General Manager / Regional Director of Reserve Bank of India has more than three decades of experience as a Central Banker. In his long career, he was posted as Regional Director, Jharkhand. He also served as Banking Ombudsman for Bihar and Jharkhand. During his tenure in Reserve Bank of India, he served across various departments including Department of Banking Supervision, Issue Department, Banking Department, Department of Non-Banking Regulation, Department of Financial Inclusion and Development and Office of Banking Ombudsman. As deputationist, he served with Central Bureau of Investigation (Bank Securities and Frauds Cell) in Mumbai for 2 years from 1996 to 1998. Prior joining to RBI, he served with Punjab National Bank and NABARD. He graduated from St Xaviers’ College, Ranchi University and acquired his Masters Degree in economics from JNU, New Delhi. Post retirement, Shri Barla was engaged with State Bank of India for three years (July 2018 -July 2021), as a Member of External Screening Committee set up at the bank’s Corporate Office, Mumbai for resolution of large NPA accounts. He was also engaged as Chief Mentor of a Start-Up consultancy firm viz. Second Opinion Services (GAR Consultants Ltd), Kolkata effective from 1 June 2020 for 3 years. At present, he is appointed as an Independent Director (BOD) of NSDL Payments Bank Ltd for 3 years effective from August 2021.

Founders

Md. Shafiqual Haque Choudhury

Co-founder ASA International

Md. Shafiqual Haque Choudhury

Co-founder ASA International

Md. Shafiqual Haque Choudhury co-founded ASAI International in 2007 and was its Chairman until December 2020. In 1978, he founded ASA NGO Bangladesh and remains President of the organisation. He had over 38 years of experience in the microfinance industry and held numerous senior committee or advisory positions including in the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh in 2007 and at several international microfinance organisations including CGAP-World Bank and UNDP Microstart. He was also a Managing Director of Catalyst Microfinance Investment Company, which he co-founded in 2006.

Dirk Brouwer

Co-founder ASA International

Dirk Brouwer

Co-founder ASA International