In the spotlight

Calling the Shots
Naina Lal Kidwai

HSBC'S Country Head and Padma Shri winner Naina Lal Kidwai, 53, joins the illustrious list of Indian professionals rising to the top in global corporations. Barely a month after ICICI Venture Funds Management Chairman Lalita D. Gupte was invited to join the board of French infrastructure giant Alstom. HSBC has inducted Kidwai into its Asia-Pacific board.

Kidwai, who had prior stints with PWC, Morgan Stanley and ANZ Grindlays, has been with the global bank for the last eight years. India is already the fastest-growing market for HSBC, but rival Citibank remains the largest foreign bank in India. Says HSBC Chief Executive Michael Geoghegan: "Naina's appointment is a reflection of the growing importance of India in our emerging markets strategy."