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Former GoI secretary C.M. Vasudev joins Clix Capital as chairman
Mumbai: Clix Capital, co-founded by Pramod Bhasin and Anil Chawla and supported by AION Capital, has announced a new chairman, C.M. Vasudev. Vasudev was formerly the Secretary of the Department of Banking, Expenditure, and Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, with the Government of India. Vasudev was appointed as a GOI nominee on the boards of several public-sector financial institutions and the Central Board of RBI. Having chaired the NBFC sector reforms committee, he was also part of the World Bank as an Executive Director for over three years in the past. Vasudev is the former chairman and independent director of HDFC Bank. Vasudev takes over the chairmanship from Bhasin and is joined on the board by two additional independent directors, Anuradha Bajpai, and Ajay Candade.
Bajpai comes with over three decades of experience in audit and assurance. She worked with Deloitte, Haskins, and Sells for 17 years, where she led the team responsible for statutory audit and group reporting under IFRS and US GAAP for various NBFCs, including those forming part of the Merrill Lynch Group, the Morgan Stanley Group, and the Caspian Group. Her expertise extends beyond the financial services sector, as she has serviced media companies in India forming part of the WPP Group, companies in the telecom sector, the retail industry, other service industries, and manufacturing companies in the iron and steel sector.
Candade is currently the managing partner and co-founder of Fractal Growth Partners, a scale-up-focused investor in technology-enabled businesses. In his prior assignments, he worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company in New York and Mumbai, an investor with Warburg Pincus, and also with KKR’s private equity team. He has served on and/or been an observer on the boards of several companies, including Alliance Tire, Avendus Capital, Continental Warehousing Corporation Ltd., Euro Kids Group/Lighthouse Learning, Magma Fincorp, Magma Housing Finance, Max India, Max Healthcare, and TVS Supply Chain Solutions. Candade was also a member of the CII National Committee on Logistics.
“In line with SEBI regulations, Mr. Vasudev will be taking over from me as an independent chairman. The invaluable contribution and support of the new board members will play a crucial role in Clix Capital’s mission to foster credit inclusion among Indian SMEs. We anticipate the unveiling of new growth prospects under their esteemed direction and guidance,” expressed Bhasin.
“We are always grateful for the invaluable contributions of our esteemed board members. With the addition of new independent members, we are poised to harness an even greater depth of expertise that will propel Clix Capital towards unparalleled success in its next era of hypergrowth,” said Clix Capital CEO & MD Rakesh Kaul.
Apollo head of private equity, Utsav Bajilal also commented, “As the business of Clix Capital matures, we are thrilled to invite Mr. Vasudev to chair the Board. We believe onboarding Mrs. Bajpai and Mr. Candade will significantly strengthen the Board. Bringing in experienced professionals to guide the management team will provide the level of oversight needed for a lending franchise.”
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
