Mumbai: DSP Asset Managers today announced the appointment of Aditi Kothari Desai as the new Chairperson of the firm. She succeeds her father, Hemendra Kothari, who has led the organization since its inception in 1996. This transition marks a historic moment as Aditi becomes the first woman to head DSP and the fifth-generation family member to carry forward the firm’s 160-year legacy in Indian financial services.
Aditi brings with her over 20 years of diverse experience across investments, sales, marketing, and digital transformation. She began her career at Merrill Lynch in New York, working on mergers and acquisitions in the Financial Institutions Group. Since joining DSP Asset Managers in 2002, she has played a pivotal role in driving domestic business growth, spearheading the firm’s international expansion, and leading its digital transformation initiatives. She also chairs Compound Express, DSP’s fintech venture.
A graduate of the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from Harvard Business School, Aditi’s leadership reflects a deep understanding of global finance paired with a commitment to Indian investor needs.
“I am honored to take on this responsibility and continue building on our AMC’s legacy. This transition is simply a continuation of the same long-term thinking and investor-first philosophy that has defined DSP’s journey for over 160 years, and I intend to continue our endeavor to make a difference to and elevate as many lives as we can. We are one of the few fully independent family-run firms among India’s top 10 asset managers, and our family continues to invest its own public fund capital into the very funds we manage which speaks to our deep conviction and accountability,” said Aditi Kothari Desai, Chairperson, DSP Asset Managers.
“It has been a privilege to lead DSP Asset Managers since its inception. While I am passing the baton to my dear daughter Aditi, I feel proud to see our family’s legacy continue with a visionary leader who embodies the values of reputation, integrity, and high standards that have guided us for generations. Our unwavering commitment to these principles has been the cornerstone of our success, and I am confident that Aditi will uphold these traditions while leading the firm into a new era of innovation, digitization and growth,” said Hemendra Kothari, Chairman, DSP Asset Managers.