Abstract

This case discusses the issue of succession at Axis Bank Ltd. (Axis Bank), India’s third largest private sector bank. The case details the growth of Axis Bank under Pangal Jayendra Nayak (Nayak) the CMD of the bank from January 1, 2000 to April 20, 2009. Analysts credited him with taking the bank to a new level during his tenure. However, Nayak also attracted criticism for his failure to identify and groom an able successor to lead the bank after the end of his tenure. In early 2009, the board of the Axis Bank initiated the succession planning process and hired a global HR firm, Egon Zehnder International to identify the new CEO. After many months of scouting and intense media speculation about Nayak’s successor, the Axis Bank board zeroed in upon Shikha Sharma (Sharma), the then CEO and chairman of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Ltd., as the new CEO and MD of Axis Bank. The decision was opposed by Nayak as he reportedly wanted an insider to succeed him. According to Nayak, Sharma did not have the relevant banking experience to take up the position and in any case he felt that people who had been involved in building up the bank should be asked to lead it. The board, however, contended that the insiders who were front runners for the position were experts in their fields but lacked an overall vertical experience. They also criticized Nayak for not grooming his successor. With the board deciding to go ahead with the appointment of Sharma, Nayak quit the bank well before his tenure was to end July 31, 2009. As Sharma joined in her new role as the CEO and MD of Axis bank in June 1, 2009, industry observers felt she had her job cut out, considering the succession drama that unfolded at Axis Bank after her name was announced as Nayak’s successor. Another challenge before Sharma was to spur growth in the bank that had a culture that was in stark contrast to that of the ICICI Group.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Understand the significance of succession planning and leadership development in large organizations
• Examine the impact of issues like corporate culture, leadership, and shareholder management with regard to succession planning. Identify the problems an organization has to face due to the lack of a succession plan. Understand the role of a CEO in the pe

Keywords

Succession, Succession planning, Leadership, Leadership development, Grooming, Recruitment, Selection, Shareholder management, Corporate culture, Empowering, ethics, Banking, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank