Strides Pharma Science Limited (‘Strides’) has announced that Aditya Puri has joined the Strides Group as an Advisor and also will be a Director of its associate Company, Stelis Biopharma (‘Stelis’). Recognised as a stalwart of the Indian banking and financial services industry, Puri was the founder-Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HDFC Bank from its inception in 1994 until his retirement from the position in October 2020, earning the distinction of having been the longest-serving head of a private bank in India.

Prior to setting up HDFC Bank, he was CEO of Citibank Malaysia with nearly two decades of overall banking experience across markets with Citibank. Puri was inducted into the Chartered Accountants Hall of Fame by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), becoming the first member of ICAI to be honoured with this award. 

Commenting on the development, Aditya Puri said: “I look forward to working with Arun and building world-class institutions to produce high-quality affordable biotherapeutics and CDMO services including those needed to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Group’s established parentage, global success and headstart in terms of basic infrastructure, gives me the opportunity to be involved in and guide Stelis and other Group endeavours in their exciting growth story.”

Commenting on the development, Arun Kumar, Founder & Chairman of the Board of Strides, said: “I am delighted to welcome Aditya as our Advisor and to the Stelis Board. This a huge vote of confidence in the potential of Stelis. Aditya’s illustrious legacy is well-known. Having nurtured HDFC Bank since inception, his deep experience will be extremely valuable for the Strides Group and Stelis in particular. With Stelis poised for its next leg of growth, this is the right time to expand the Board and ensure robust guidance and governance by the best possible industry minds. I look forward to working with Aditya and leveraging his expertise to take Stelis to new heights.”