Dr. Emandi Sankara Rao is currently serving as MD&CEO of IFCI Ltd, a Government of India Undertaking. IFCI is the oldest Financial Institution and the first Development Finance Institution of the country set up in 1948 and has been contributing towards Indian economic growth through development of infrastructure and industry. Dr. Rao is also the Chairman of IFCI group companies and institutions namely Stock Holding Corporation of India Ltd, IFCI Venture Capital Funds Ltd, IFCI Factors Ltd, Management Development Institute – Gurgaon & Murshidabad and Institute of Leadership Development. He is an alumni of IIT Bombay (PhD), IIT Kharagpur (M.Tech), Pondicherry Central University (PGDBA) and Andhra University (B.E. Electrical Engineering).

Prior to IFCI Ltd, Dr.Rao has served for over 30 years with leading Financial Institutions – IIFCL and IDFC. He has extensive experience in Project & Corporate Finance, Private Equity, Investment Banking, Infrastructure Development and Long Term Resource Raising (Domestic & Foreign Capital). He was the Founder Director & CEO of IIFCL Asset Management Company Ltd and also the Founder Director & CEO of IIFCL Projects Limited and also was associated with the IDFC Group as Director & Business Head.

Dr.Rao has been a member in the Sub-Group on Infrastructure Finance (under RBI and erstwhile Planning Commission Working Group on Savings Formulation) of the 12th Five Year Plan, member of Sub-Group on Financing Urban Infrastructure in the 12th Five Year Plan, and a member in the Ministry of Finance – DFS Committee on Debt Market Development and contributed to several research & policy papers in various National and International Conferences & Workshops. Recently, he has been recognised by the globally renowned Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards for his contribution in the field of financial services.

Besides being a Banking & Finance Specialist, Dr.Rao is also an Academician, Skill Developer & Start-up Enabler, Social Reformer and a Farmer!