Suresh Mahalingam
About Suresh Mahalingam
Suresh Mahalingam is an Independent Director and Board Member with over thirty years of experience in the BFSI and FMCG sectors. He currently leads the digital transformation practice at Kalzoom Advisors and serves as a strategic advisor to various organizations.
Work at Aviva India
Suresh Mahalingam serves as an Independent Director and Board Member at Aviva India. His tenure began in 2020 and continues to the present. In this role, he contributes to the strategic direction and governance of the organization, leveraging his extensive experience in the financial services sector.
Education and Expertise
Suresh Mahalingam holds a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) from the University of Madras, completed between 1980 and 1982. He also completed a Post Graduate Programme in International Management at the International Management Institute (IMI) in 1988. Additionally, he studied at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, where he completed an Executive Programme in General Management in 1997. He has further enhanced his qualifications with a Post Graduate Program in Executive Coaching from Coaching Foundation India Limited (CFI).
Background
Suresh Mahalingam has over thirty years of experience in corporate India, primarily in senior leadership roles within the BFSI and FMCG sectors. He has held various significant positions, including Managing Director and CEO at Tata AIA Life Insurance and General Manager at HDFC Life. His career includes a long tenure at ITC Limited, where he served as South Business Head for 17 years.
Achievements
Throughout his career, Suresh Mahalingam has held multiple directorships and board memberships across various organizations, including PGIM India Asset Management, Pramerica Life Insurance, and COCO by Navi General Insurance. He has also contributed to the establishment of WGC as a fully-integrated financial services group during his time as a member of the Group Management Council. His focus on ethical and sustainable business practices has influenced his strategic consulting work.
Current Roles and Advisory Positions
In addition to his role at Aviva India, Suresh Mahalingam is currently a Director at 5F World and serves as a strategic advisor to several emerging organizations, including Nubesol, SpeakIn, Skill-Edge, and iAssist Innovation Labs. He is also a CFI Certified Leadership Coach, providing guidance and coaching to individuals and organizations seeking to enhance their leadership capabilities.