About Sudha Datta is a leading authority in Global Custody and Securities Lending, Investment Operations, Asset Servicing, Operational Excellence, with over 30 years of experience globally.
Sudha serves asset managers, pension funds, family investment offices, sovereign wealth funds and other beneficial owners as a consultant and advises on securities lending, global custody and investment operations.
Sudha is an expert in managing the RFP process for selection of Global custodian and Securities Lending providers for pension funds and other asset owners.
Experience
Sudha Datta worked as Head of Operations for over 20 years with Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), a sovereign wealth fund with a global, diversified portfolio of holdings across sectors, geographies and asset classes. At ADIA:
He was responsible for selection of custodians, managing the RFP process, conducting regular due diligence exercises, risk assessment (asset safety and accessibility) and the maintenance of relationship with multiple global custodians.
He played a key role in setting up securities lending program for ADIA which is currently one of the major lending programs of the world.
During his tenure Sudha transformed ADIA’s operations department with updated technologies, re-skilling employees and with various process changes.
Negotiated service level agreements and legal agreements with various external service providers (e.g. custodians, lending agents, brokers, fund managers etc.) and with other internal departments.
He was a member of the senior management team of the operations Department with over 100 employees.
In his early career, Sudha worked as financial Consultant (in collaboration with PWC) in various World Bank funded consulting assignments in Bangladesh.
He speaks at various industry conferences /forums on topics including custody, securities lending, collateral management, Investment Operations and regulations.
Education
Mr. Datta is an associate of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CPA), a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, U.K (now the London Institute of Banking & Finance) and a fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investments, U.K. Sudha is serving various not-profit organizations as Treasurer and Board member. He is a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) and a member of the Toastmasters International –a non- profit organization promoting public speaking and leadership skills in 143 countries. He was honored with the “Industry Legend Award” on 30 November 2016 by the Global Custodian magazine.