Biography

One of the four founders of Gateway Partners, Shankar is also the group CEO and Chairs Gateway's Private Equity Investment Committees. Shankar leads strategy, management, key investor relations and business development globally, as well as originating and executing deals. He brings over four decades of investment banking, M&A, capital markets and private equity experience.

Shankar previously served as CEO - Europe, Middle East, Africa and Americas and a member of the global board of Standard Chartered Plc and prior to that as CEO - BA Asia and Head of Investment Banking for Asia Pacific at Bank of America.

Shankar’s experience as a Board member spans numerous companies across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the U.S. He currently serves on the Boards of entities including Dangote Industries Limited, the Fund for Export Development in Africa, Vision Blue Resources, and AG Café International management Ltd.

Shankar has previously been involved with various international institutions and committees including the boards of the Inland Revenue Authority Singapore; Enterprise Singapore; Majid Al Futtaim Holdings; Sub-Saharan Advisory Board of the Exim Bank USA; Economic Strategies Committee and National Integration Council constituted by the government of Singapore; Asia Society, New York; Singapore Indian Development Association; Global Business Coalition for Education; Vice Chair of Future of Banking Global Agenda Council of the World Economic Forum; and, financial centre task force appointed by the Treasurer of the State of California.

Shankar earned an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore and a Bachelor of Science from Loyola College in Chennai and was awarded the Public Service Medal by the government of Singapore in 2014.