About me..

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Business Administration & Commerce · MS University – Tamil Nadu, India

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)· Swiss School of Management – Switzerland

Master of Business Administration (MBA) · Edinburgh Napier University– Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Master of Science in Financial Engineering (M.Sc. FE) · World Quant University– Louisiana, USA (Currently Pursuing)

Post Graduate Programme in Management of Business Finance (MBF) · Indian Institute of Finance– Delhi, India

Executive Senior Management Programme (SMP) · Indian Institute of Management– Kozhikode, India

Executive Programme on Advance Data Analytics (eMDP) · Indian Institute of Management– Kozhikode, India

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Science (B.Sc.) · Kerala Agricultural University– Kerala, India

Certificate in Quantitative Finance (CQF) · CQF Institute, Fitch Learning –London, United Kingdom

Certified Trading Book Risk Manager (TBRM) · London School of Business & Finance, UK

Certified Risk Specialist (CRS) · International Academy of Business & Financial Management–New York, USA

Executive Programme in Data Science Using R & Excel · XLRI - Jamshedpur, India

Certified ISO 31000 Risk Management Practitioner · TUV Nord Group – Dubai, UAE

Certified in Advanced Business Analytics · Manipal Pro Learn –Karnataka, India

Qualified National Eligibility Test (NET) for Professorship in Management · University Grant Commission (UGC)– Delhi, India

MCX Certified Commodity Professional (MCCP) · Multi Commodity Exchange–Mumbai, India

Leadership & Organizational Management Skills · Logic Management Consulting – Dubai, UAE

Certified in Advanced Technical Analysis · Online Trading Academy – Dubai, UAE

Derivative Trading & Risk Management on Agricultural Commodity Markets · Archer Consulting –Sao Paulo, Brazil

Various Training courses on Time Series Econometrics with R · University Grand Commission (UGC)– Delhi, India

The Savola Group – Saudi Arabia

Director of Commodity Risk Control (Jun’ 2021 to present)

Lead in Commodity Risk Control activities of Grain, Soft and Edible oil segments. Management Risk Policy & Control. Commodity Trading & Risk Management system implantation, focusing on Market Risk from Derivative & Exchange traded products covering in Global Financial markets. Look after the back office activities of hedging, and hedge accounting side of the business.

Al Ghurair Group – United Arab Emirates‎

Head of Risk Management (Jun’ 2019 to May '2021)

Lead in Risk Management Policy development and Risk & Trading system implantation, focusing on Market Risk from Derivative & Exchange traded products covering Grains, Edible Oil, Ocean freight and Currency in Global Financial markets.

Implement in state of art Risk Management policy and procedure to mitigate the Risk arises from the Market, Counterparty and Credit side. Manage and Mitigate the risk exposure from Grain, Oil Seeds and Ocean Freight Market via Hedging in Global Derivative Market. Manage the Derivative broker relationship and regulatory requirements, margining, Mark to Market position management. Conduct the Internal Compliance practices and Risk Committee meetings and Risk report to the Group level. Up-gradation of Risk Management system (Triple Point by ION) to bring more clarity in Risk Reporting.

Glow Oil Group – United Arab Emirates‎

Head of Trading & Risk Management (Sep ‘2018 to May ‘2019)

Lead in trading & Risk Management of Crude oil derivatives and ocean freight segments, as well as examined ‎structured derivative products for advanced hedging.

Energy trading (physical as well as futures) & sourcing, managing logistics of physical trading, managing commodity futures trading funds, commodity hedging and risk management. Experts in different hedging strategies and risk management techniques using futures, options and OTC markets. Proficient in technical and fundamental analysis of commodity markets. Good knowledge in Crude oil and its derivatives like Fuel Oil, Naphtha etc. Risk reporting via Quantitative models and Quant hedging strategies. Construct Algo trading models with low risk strategies.

Selected Contributions:

• Developed Risk Policy to for Energy and Freight Risk.

• Opened Derivative Trading accounts with Financial Institutions and comply with Regulatory requirements.

• Implemented Risk Management Systems (Aspects from ION)

Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill (GARMCO) – Kingdom of Bahrain‎

Head of Risk Management (Aug ‘2014 to Aug ‘2018)

Led technical & fundamental analysis of commodity and currency segments, as well as examined ‎structured derivative products for advanced hedging.‎

Complied with company risk policies on Credit, operation and market Risk, focusing in performing Credit rating procedure for customers and forward inventory hedging of raw material,‎ proxy hedging of currency etc. Secured the sales margin from metal market fluctuations by implementing metal hedging strategies ‎for group companies specified in the metal hedging policy. Evaded backwardation risk in LME market managing monetary difference between the return on ‎assets and the cost of liabilities over time.‎ Evaluated hedging strategies for aluminum and currencies through research and analysis reports. Implementation of ERM and conduct the BCM, Information security factions in the organisation. Oversee the regulatory and compliance side of risk in overall departments.

Selected Contributions:

• Developed Quant models to adjust the maximum risk adjusted return form spared management strategy.

• Identified and reduced risks factor by creating commodity research and risk reports on commodities ‎and ‎currencies.

• Implementation of Management Systems (Enterprise Risk Management and Business Continuity Management)

• Successfully upgraded and automated risk management System with BRADY (CTRM System).‎

• Saved profit of $6M annually by performing derivative activities and executed new risk policy on metal, ‎currency, and interest rate for the group of companies. Managing a LME trade transaction of more than $1 Billionin derivatives.

• Maximised risk-adjusted rate of return by retaining credit risk exposure within acceptable ‎parameters through implementationof credit risk management methods with interest rate swaps and ‎advanced structures implemented the MJP Hedging to reduce the Risk from Aluminium premium market.‎

• Build solid relationship with LME broker and bankers that added new members to portfolio and negotiation of ISDA agreements.

The Savola Group (MNC in Middle East), HO – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Senior Manager in Commodity Research & Risk Management Department, UAE (Mar ‘2013 to Jul ‘2014)

Conducted technical & fundamental analysis of commodity segments (soft, grain & edible oil) and organised‎structured derivative products for advanced hedging& trading.‎

Played a key role in formulating hedging & trading strategies, implemented the Delta Neutral hedging strategies to take advantage of ‎the predictive and unproductive market moves. Led the trade implementation via direct to market access. Run the intraday ‎trading book and successfully saved good profits.‎

Selected Contributions:

• Managed more than 1Millionlots of trade (soft, grain & edible oil) in derivatives and saved $4M on annual basis.‎

• Played an integral role in establishing company presence and operations within markets.

• Achieved extraordinary results by attaining overall 100% performance score.

• Examined White Premium market under different categories of company risk policies.

• Implemented the advanced OTC hedging strategies using futures and options for different product lines.

Senior Derivative Trader in Commodity Risk Management & Research Department, KSA (Feb ‘2007 to Mar ‘2013)

Developed cost-saving strategies for the company by analysing and spearheading forward cover ‎in raw ‎sugar, soy oil, Palm Oil and white premium hedging.‎

Achieved organisational goals by developing and executing hedging strategies and solutions.‎Protected and maintained higher raw sugar prices and lower white sugar premiums by utilising‎different OTC option hedging strategies and methodologies.‎Examined the freights markets and fixing freights and managed long-term FFA (Forward Freight ‎Agreement) with freight brokers in order to reduce the risk of higher freights and lock the forward ‎freight rates.‎Hedging the grain and edible oil segment by way of fixing physical premiums separately in Soybean oil‏ ‏& Palm oil.‎

Selected Contributions:

• Led derivatives trading group, setting trader risk parameters and minimizing system risk, increasing ‎group profitability by $1.5 Million per year in various commodities.‎

• Achieved best performer award for annual performance of 2011 to 2012.

• Controlled higher raw sugar prices with OTC collar by developing and implementing OTC option ‎hedging techniques.‎

• Maximised profits through market research for palm and soya oil, as well as analysed the physical ‎quantities according to future market and trading trends.

Multi-Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) – Mumbai, India

Senior Executive - Commodity Research & Development (Jan ‘2005 to Feb ‘2007)

Played a key role in the development of commodity and energy future contracts and conducted ‎analysis of different economic sectors like agriculture and energy.‎

‎Coordinated with different Government Institutions and Research Agencies and analysed weather, ‎freight, electricity and index futures research on exotic products. Researched new initiatives in National Spot Exchange for Agriculture Produce (NSEAP). Managed risk like price discovery and forecasting and simulated the commodity prices for different interest groups.

Selected Contributions:

• Formulated and launched the Spot Contracts, conducted Pan-India Research for NSEAP project.

• Contributed in creating the first Future contract on Turmeric and Cardamom in MCX platform.

• Implemented government regulations and initiatives in global and domestic commodity market.

• Part of Developing the first ever Commodity Index “Comdex” for MCX platform

Trainings / Workshop Conducted:

· Workshop on Financial Risk Management at Reform Trainings, Dubai, UAE.

· Basic Econometrics Analysis for PhD Research Scholars and Academicians at Finformation, Trivandrum, India.

Research Guidance / Principal Investigator:

· Price Discovery and market efficiency of Commodity Futures for Kerala University, Trivandrum, India

· Study on Egg Futures for Indian Commodity Derivative Market for Multi Commodity India Ltd, Mumbai, India

· Study on future and prospects of Turmeric Future Markets in India for Multi Commodity India Ltd, Mumbai, India.

· Farmers Information Support Online System for Indian Farmers for National Spot Exchange Ltd, Mumbai, India

· World Gold Conference, Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad, INDIA

· Essence of Life & Growth, Indian Institute of Finance (IIF), Delhi, INDIA

· Future of Finance and CFO Summit, Dubai, UAE

· Enterprise Risk Management Middle East, Dubai, UAE

· Accounting and Finance Show Meddle East, Dubai, UAE

· Come on Kerala – Business Conclave, Sharjah, UAE

Published Articles in Research Journals:

• The article titled “Rubber Future Market in India” published in Management Researcher Journal in Sept ‘2015.

• The article titled “Commodity Derivative Market Reforms in India” published in International Research Journal of Business and Management in June 2015.

• The article titled “Pricing Efficiency of Black Pepper Future Markets of India” published in Southern Economist Journal in May 2015.

• The article titled “An Overview of Indian Sugarcane Industry: Future and Perspective” published in International Research Journal of Business and Management in May 2015.

• The article titled “Price Discovery in Indian Sugar Futures Market” published in Southern Economist Journal in April 2015.

• The article titled “Future of Commodity Derivative Market in India” published in International Research Journal of Management Sociology and Humanity in March 2015.

• The article titled “Price Discovery of Gold in India and World Commodity Derivative Market” published in Management Researcher Journal. Vol. XXI No.1 JUL – SEP 2014.

Research Articles:

• Agricultural Value Chain Finance in India: Challenges and Prospects.·Feasibility Study on Commodity Option & Design of Suitable Option Contracts for Indian Commodity Market.·Weather Derivatives and Its Effect on Commodity Market ·Corporate Participation in Rural Development Special Focus on Indian Agriculture.

Research Paper Presentations– International / National Level Workshops / Conferences:

• Presented research article titled “Investigation of Price Discovery for Gold Future Market Prices” in Conference on Gold & Gold markets organised by Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad on 12^th January 2018.

• Participated in the National Seminar on The Recent Trends in Commerce and Management Studies organized by Institute of Management Development and Research, Kerala, held on April ‘2016, at Kerala Institute of Truism and Travel Studies, and presented a paper entitled “Critical Analysis on Role of Indian Commodity Future Market in Price Discovery”

• Participated in the two-day UGC Sponsored National Seminar on Impact of FDI in Retailing – Kerala Scenario, held on16th - 17th December ‘2015, at PG Department of Commerce, Iqbal College, Thiruvananthapuram, and presented a paper entitled “FDI in Indian Commodity Derivatives”

• Participated in the UGC Sponsored National Level Training cum Workshop on “Time Series Econometrics” organized by the PG Department of Economics, Government College, Chalakkudy on 17th – 22nd March ‘2014, and presented a paper titled “Price Discovery in the World Gold Future and Indian Commodity Market”.

• Participated in the two-day UGC Sponsored National Conference on Impact of Globalisation in the Performance of Micro and Small Enterprises in India, held on 26th - 27th September ‘2014, at Department of Commerce, Scott Christian College, Nagarcoil, and Tamil Nadu and presented a paper entitled “Post Globalisation Study on Small Scale Industries in India – Special Focus on Kerala”.

• Participated in the two-day National Seminar on The Prospects and Implications of Research in the Field of Commerce, held on 26th December ‘2014, at PG Department of Commerce, Government College, Thiruvananthapuram, and presented a paper entitled “Ethics in Academic Research Work”.

• Participated and presented an article titled “Indian Sugarcane Industry – An overview and Historical Perspective” in two-day Research Colloquium in Business Studies organised by the Department of Commerce, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University on 30th - 31st August 2013.

• Participated in the UGC Sponsored Two Days National Seminar on “Multi – Variate Analysis in Commerce and Management Research” organised by the PG Department of Commerce, Kuriakose Gregarious College, Pampady on 16th and 17th December 2013, and presented a paper titled “Commodity Derivative Trading in India – Facts and Future”.

• Participated in the National Seminar on “India’s Emerging Economy-Prospects and Challenges” organised by the PG Department of Commerce, Government College, Nedumangad, sponsored by Department of Collegiate Education, Government of Kerala on 6th - 7th November 2013, and presented a paper titled “Commodity Market Reforms in India”

• · Two Weeks FDP on “Financial Management – Teaching & Research Perspective” by Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Indore - India.

• · Two Weeks FDP on “Quantitative Methods for Data Analysis” by Delhi University & Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.

• · Two Weeks FDP on “Managing Online Classes & Co-Creating MOOCS:2.0” by Delhi University & Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.

• · One Weeks FDP on “Pedagogical & E- Learning Tools for Teaching” by Kerala University & The Kerala State Higher Education Council, Kerala - India.

Conferences attended:

· AI Everything Summit, UAE

· ION – CTRM Conference, Singapore

· BRADY – CTRM conference, UK

· LME Dinners in London, UK

· Arab Aluminium Conference, Bahrain & UAE

· Kingsman Sugar Conference at UAE & India

· Palm Oil Conference at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

· Sugar Dinners in London, UK

Trainings attended:

· Leadership & Organizational Management Skills from Logic Management Consulting, Dubai

· Advanced Technical Analysis from Online Trading Academy, Dubai

· Derivative Trading & Risk Management on Agricultural Market conducted by Archer Consulting, Brazil

· Attended Training courses on Time Series Econometrics from University Grand Commission, India

• Member of Institute of Risk Management(IRM), USA

• Member of Market Technicians Association (MTA), USA

• Sustaining Member Professional Risk Managers International Association (PRIMA), USA

• Member of Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP), USA

• Active Member and Advance Communicator & Leader with Toastmasters International (TMI), USA

• Former Joint Secretary of Kerala Agricultural University Students Union (1999-00), Kerals - INDIA

• Former President of Student’s Union, College of Agriculture, Kerala Agriculture University (2001-02), Kerala - INDIA

• Former University Union Councillor (UUC) of Student’s Union, College of Agriculture, Kerala Agriculture University (2001-02), Kerala - INDIA

• Former Group Leader in Indian Institute of Finance Fraternity (IIF), Delhi - INDIA

Financial Market Packages: Bloomberg, FX – GO, Reuters, E-Signal, CQG, ICE Connect & First Markets.

Trading System: TT, Able Sys, Vantage Point and Meta Stock.

Statistical Packages: Mathematica, MATLAB, Eviews, Givewin, STATS and SPSS.

Programming Languages: Python and R.

CSR Award 2021: From Indian Institute of Finance (IIF), Delhi - India.