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 Silver Medalist in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Tata Institute of Social Sciences. She was awarded with the Silver Medal from the prestigious institute for her exceptional academic and research work. Being a Social entrepreneur, she used to run her own project especially dedicated to improve hygiene & lifestyle of underserved women and was also associated with large sized organizations in Eastern India. She has joined 'Team ASA' with an aim to eradicate problems faced by the underprivileged and eventually help ASA India to get a solid social recognition. Post her graduation she completed Masters in Social Sciences from Tata Institute of Social Sciences. As an individual she firmly believes “Growing Together” is the key to success.

Board of Directors

Dirk Brouwer

Mr. Brouwer co-founded ASA International in 2007 and has since been its Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer. He also is Director of Catalyst Micro finance Investors, Catalyst Microfinance Investment Company, and CMIMC, all of which entities he co-founded in 2006. Prior to 2007, he had a distinguished career in investment banking spanning over 20 years. He held senior positions at PaineWebber, Merrill Lynch and Sequoia, an independent corporate finance advisory and private equity firm, which he founded in 2002. He is also non-executive Chairman of CarbonX.

Md. Enamul Haque

Md. Enamul Haque has been working as Chief Operating Officer of ASA International Group plc since 2008. In addition, he is a board member of seven 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.

A.K.M. Aminur Rashid

Mr. Rashid is the Executive Director (Operation and Management) of ASA International. has a Master’s degree in Science from Dhaka University and comes with 25 years of experience and progressive responsibility in planning, management and implementation of microfinance programs in competitive and challenging operating environments.

Mohammed Azim Hussain

Mr. Hussain is the Director of Investment and Treasury at ASA International. With a Master’s degree from the University of Dhaka and a Diploma in Project Management from Denmark, Mr. Hussain has served in the capacity of a consultant for various MFIs across countries like Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, the Philippines, Yemen, Cambodia, and Indonesia. Joining ASA-Bangladesh in 1984, he took over as Director of Finance and MIS in 1992, gathering vast experience in product development and lending methodology in the microfinance sector as well as financial management, accounting system design, business planning, financial forecasting, and performance analysis. Mr. Hussain is also in charge of ASA NGO Partnership Build-Up Program, where small NGOs/MFIs receive financial and technical support form ASA.

Anjan Dasgupta

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

Ashish Singh

Mr. Singh holds a B.E. degree in Electronics from Mumbai University as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Systems, Marketing from IIM, Lucknow. Also possessing an MBA, he is the Executive Vice President and part of the leadership team of Bharat Banking, the rural banking wing of IDFC Bank. Mr. Singh holds dual responsibility for the business P&L delivery through the branch network and strategic alliances alongside his role of Product Head for the asset business of Bharat Bank. With over 17 years of experience across the retail banking and financial services sector, Mr. Singh has also been associated with key organizations like Fullerton India and ICICI Bank Ltd.

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 has been appointed as an Independent Director as of March 2022. Mr Barla is the former Chief General Manager / Regional Director of Reserve Bank of India (‘RBI’) has more than three decades of experience as a Central Banker. In his long career, he was posted as the Regional Director for Jharkhand. He also served as Banking Ombudsman for Bihar and Jharkhand. As deputationist, he served with the Central Bureau of Investigation in Mumbai for 2 years from 1996 to 1998. Prior to 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, Mr Barla was engaged with the State Bank of India for three years, as a Member of the External Screening Committee. He was also engaged as Chief Mentor of a start-Up consultancy firm Second Opinion Services (GAR Consultants Ltd) for 3 years. At present, he is an Independent Director of NSDL Payments Bank Ltd.

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

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.