Max Financial Services Limited announced that at its AGM held on August 25, 2022, shareholders approved the appointment of Mrs. Gauri Padmanabhan as an independent director of the company and to hold office for a term of 5 consecutive years with effect from August 25, 2022 up to August 24, 2027 and that she shall not be liable to retire by rotation. Ms. Gauri Padmanabhan is a Global Partner and leads the CEO & Board and Consumer Markets Practices for Heidrick & Struggles in India. She also oversees the Education Practice in South Asia.

Along-tenured partner, Ms. Gauri joined Heidrick &Struggles in 2000 and over the last 18 years has played a key role in building the business in India. Working closely at the top with the leadership teams in India and the region, she has assisted them in building their leadership teams in South Asia. Her clients include large global and Indian corporations in the consumer, retail, luxury, hospitality & leisure, education and OTC sectors, Gauri has also assisted many of them build their top leadership teams during start-up /India entry.

Before moving to her present position of leading the Consumer Markets Practice, Ms. Gauri set up and very successfully built the Lifesciences Practice for the company in India. During the six years that she led the Practice in India, she partnered closely with all the leading players in the pharmaceuticals & devices sectors in the country. Ms. Gauri has specialized in leadership searches at the Board and 'C' level.

In meeting the leadership needs of her clients, she has been very successful not only in tapping Indian leadership talent both in market & abroad but also in bringing in talent from overseas. Partnering with her clients in driving their digital & diversity agendas is a focus area for Gauri. Prior to joining Heidrick & Struggles, she had a leadership role in a major direct-selling multinational with overall responsibility for customer services & delivery.

As part of the senior management team, she was a key member on the Strategic Planning Group of the company. Her career also includes general management, consulting, and teaching stints.