As the India CEO of Bank of America N.A., Nakhate has taken positioned the bank as one of the top foreign banks in India, and has been instrumental in closing some of the biggest deals in Indian corporate history
Kaku Nakhate, India CEO of Bank of America NA
Image: Mexy Xavier
Kaku Nakhate rang the doorbell of an Indian conglomerate in Mumbai one midnight in 2018. The tension was palpable as the person she was supposed to have a conversation with had a reputation of being difficult to deal with.
Determined to launch her pitch, she spoke with passion once she came face-to-face with the individual. “We have been working tirelessly to close the deal, but I strongly believe that we are on the verge of losing it. One small misstep, one tiny concession, and the entire deal could slip through our fingers,” she explained, referring to a multi-billion deal with a European company.
That midnight meeting was the turning point in sealing the deal.
With nearly three decades of experience in the financial services sector, Nakhate is now India CEO, Bank of America NA (BANA). Her journey with Bank of America began when she rejoined the company in 2010 as country head for India. Prior to that, she worked at JP Morgan as vice chairman of India operations, and held senior positions in global markets and equities at DSP Merrill Lynch for over 18 years.
(This story appears in the 18 April, 2025 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)