Madhabi Puri Buch: The Gifted Striker

It has been just over a year since Madhabi Puri Buch was named the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) chairperson. However, her work with the regulatory body in the preceding years made it evident that she was ushering in an age that used data and technology to increase efficiency. The first woman to hold the post, Buch was functioning closely as a whole-time SEBI member since April 2017.

Buch’s career has seen her not only lead a financial institution in India but also work in a market like Singapore where she held various mandates. In her role as SEBI chair, she is credited with bringing rapid changes.

During her stint as a SEBI director, she was given charge of portfolios like collective investment schemes, surveillance and investment management. After this tenure ended, she was appointed to a committee formed to help SEBI design in-house technological systems. Known for her technology and data-agnostic attitude, Buch has passed a few landmark regulatory orders, notable cases including that of Sahara Group, Deep Industries and Zee Entertainment Enterprises.

Introducing a KRAs-driven system, Buch lay special emphasis on cyber security and the use of tech and data across functions at SEBI. Being inclusive in approach, she believes in market feedback for policy changes and in collaboration to strengthen SEBI’s scope and work.