V Shankar, an alumnus of the 18th batch PGDM of IIM Calcutta and an engineering graduate from IIT Madras, founded the Computer Age Management Services Pvt. Ltd. (CAMS).
After working in a FMCG company for a few years Shankar switched to Entrepreneurship in 1987. He left a corporate career for his first start-up in the area of Computer Education. This had started as a promising venture that soon became a leader in the South.
Shankar’s next startup was in IT industry. As Y2K approached, the prospects for computer software shifted to the overseas market, and by the year 2000 there was almost no credible IT Services company serving the domestic market. That is when Shankar decided that the domestic financial services marketplace was to be his focus, and the area of operation was to be in managed services, not just IT services.
The Indian Financial Services marketplace was transforming in that period, and Shankar founded CAMS to provide Fintech services. CAMS is a technology based financial infrastructure provider for Mutual Funds, VCFs, Insurance Companies and is considered to be a valuable private addition to the capital market infrastructure. In 2000 the HDFC Group invested into CAMS, facilitating growth in its chosen businesses. In 2014 India’s premier Exchange, the NSE, took a significant position in the Company. Serving as a SEBI regulated entity, CAMS brings highest standards of governance and oversight to its operations, servicing more than five crore investor accounts with assets in excess of INR 9 trillion.
After professionalizing CAMS, Shankar focused on Angel Investing, his second passion. As a member of The Chennai Angels and the TiE, he participates in the process of Angel Investing, which includes mentoring and support to budding entrepreneurs.
A voracious reader, Shankar is interested in travel, music, and charitable activities. He has made significant financial contributions to charities for the old, health initiatives for the disadvantaged, and education for the underprivileged.
Vaidyanathan Shankar receiving his award