Transition of index rebalancing and related data maintenance process of ICE’s Equity & Fixed Income Indices to India. This role involved liaison with Technology and Research teams in the firm.Key achievements in this role:• Set up the team in Hyderabad from scratch, instituting measures to monitor their efficiency and quality.• Transitioned key data maintenance tasks, documented standard operating procedures, and automated many of the mundane processes [saved 1 resource of effort]• Moved seven indices from spreadsheets to Python [saved 1 resource of effort and improved quality by 0.1σ]• Instituted daily data quality checks, including corporate actions for reviewing data to be used in index construction processes.• Led the effort to create clean historical data for use in creating index history.• Led the effort to automate and store calculation of daily NAVs for ETNs for a client [savings of revenue loss of USD 120k annually]

This was a combination of operations and a Change The Business role. The main responsibility was to manage the rebalancing of some of MSCI’s key Private Real Estate Indexes. This role involved liaison with Technology, Research, Regulatory and Coverage teams in the firm.Key achievements in this role:• Standardized data definitions across private real estate products of MSCI [anticipated savings in the future are expected to be close to seven resources worth of annual efforts) • Designed and implemented effective techniques to quality control key measures relevant to MSCI's real estate indexes in compliance with the European Union Benchmark Regulations (EU BMR) based on data analysis [helped improve quality score by 0.2 sigma]• Identified opportunities to gain market coverage as an offshoot of the effort to determine the representativeness of the MSCI real estate property indexes vis-a-vis competitors.• Served on various committees and contributed to key decisions making with respect of data governance and subject matter expertise.• Contributed to client consultations on improving MSCI’s real estate fund index methodology

This was a Change The Business role. I was instrumental in creating data content solutions for MSCI's Equity Indexes, including setting up the required data governance for client driven projects. This role required liaison with Technology, Research, Regulatory and Product teams in the firm.Key achievements in this role: • Chaired MSCI’s Free Float and Universe Maintenance Committees. Contributed to key index data decision making.• Designed and implemented internal controls around management of data used in various equity indexes in compliance with the EU BMR [helped improve quality score by 0.1 sigma]• Designed and implemented the quality control framework for vote weighted indexes, based on data analysis • Redesigned the use of vendor data to improve efficiency [saved six resources worth of annual efforts and improved quality score by 0.2 sigma].• Designed the end state for processing data from an information system standpoint for vote weighted indexes• Identified tasks that could be outsourced based on risk and benefit thereby helping the Technology team to focus on automating tasks that will remain in-house in the longer run

The Market Neutral Corporate Actions and Dividends operations is a sensitive production function for the index business of MSCI. While leading operations for this function, I identified and worked upon various avenues for improving efficiency, apart from contributions on subject matter. Key achievements in this role:• Built the team of 20 almost from scratch, identifying talent from broader data management team whose skills were key to my requirements and recruiting the rest from outside the firm• Served on various index committees by virtue of rich index content experience and contributed to key index data decisions• Bridged inconsistencies in the way corporate actions were identified across regions increasing efficiency [generated savings to the tune of one resource worth of annual efforts].• Undertook vendor rationalization, maintaining quality constant at the same time [achieved savings of USD 135k].• Introduced stronger controls to mitigate risk of human error [helped improve quality score by 0.3 sigma by adding minimal effort].• Conceptualized and executed a project to reduce heavy dependence on humans in processing corporate actions [reduced cost to the tune of three resources worth of annual efforts].• Conceptualized the processing of corporate cash distributions across various products of the firm as part of a common workflow rather than in separate silos. This project also improved scalability and removed antiquated technology [saved two resources worth of annual efforts].• Spearheaded collation and conversion of all content based trainings materials into e-learning to benefit employees firm-wide [saved two resources worth of annual efforts].

In this role, I led the reconstitution of sector and industry indexes, including methodology. GICS is an industry taxonomy developed by MSCI and Standards & Poor’s for use by the global financial community. Apart from managing day to day operations, my role involved identifying areas within the GICS structure that require a review in order to remain current and relevant to investors and representing MSCI on market consultations for GICS.Key achievements in this role:• Developed solid understanding of the Global Industries Classification Standards Methodology.• Served as the chairman of MSCI’s Global Industries Classification Standards Committee that is responsible for approving key decisions on security level industry classification changes. • Represented MSCI in meetings with partner S&P Dow Jones Indices.• Identified and spear headed significant methodology changes at sector level that reflected market sentiments prior to competitors and won client appreciation. Two changes worth mentioning here are creation of a new sector to represent real estate and consolidation of telecommunication and media into a single sector.• Conceptualized and led the project to automate spreadsheet based processing of industry changes [saved two resources worth of annual efforts and improved quality score by 0.2 sigma].• Established better escalation process thereby improved controls [improved quality score by 0.1 sigma].• Set up process to streamline and speed up the recruitments. Authored a content based entrance examination to screen candidates. Now being used as an effective tool at the firm-wide level by relevant teams.

Developed subject matter expertise in analysis of free float and soon graduated to lead this function. Led the transition of equity universe management function, a pre-requisite for rebalancing of equity indexes and eventually led this function. Thereby, I played a pivotal role in operating security weightage changes and rebalancing of equity indexes. Key achievements in this role:• Developed solid understanding of MSCI's free float and index management methodologies.• Developed and implemented a sound quality control framework to govern security weight and size changes.• Removed inconsistencies and developed a common workflow for identifying newer securities that need to be tracked for rebalancing [saved one resource worth of annual efforts].

Started at the grass root level as an equity data analyst, covering various index data points for certain countries in the Asia Pacific. The role involved quality controlling free float, number of shares, industrial classification and fundamental data for assets in designated countries. Took many initiatives to work on most countries in the Asia Pacific region. Within a year graduated to pseudo lead the Asia Pacific data coverage team of four analysts.

Involved in implementing Financial Statements module of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system for their international units.

Involved in Budgeting/Forecasting the Financial Statements, including variance analysis with actual results, Revenue Analysis/Debtors Analysis/Assisting Revenue Assurance, Revenue accounting and bill generation of various telecommunication services.