A banking tycoon, Deepak Parekh has weathered many storms on his way to becoming HDFC group's non-executive chairman. And today, he stands tall as a Padma Bhushan Awardee, with several major establishments under his tutelage.

He spent his formative years in global metropolitan hubs like Mumbai and London, attaining his B.Com degree from the prestigious Sydenham College. Parekh, a chartered accountant by profession has worked with finance giants like Ernst & Young, Grindlays Bank and the Chase Manhattan Bank.

After he joined the HDFC group in 1978, there has been no turning back for Deepak Parekh. His trajectory in India's business narrative is legendary. This is the man who saved Satyam, when it caved in the face of a crippling crisis. He is also responsible for the radical turnaround of the Unit Trust of India (UTI). Parekh has come out gleaming, every time corporate India hit rough waters. These are not small shoes to fill.

Parekh is famous for his meticulous methods and clinically clean process of working. Perhaps this is what makes him so effective as one of the nation's most successful experts on government policies. He became the go-to man for India's policymakers, cementing his position as chairman on several government committee panels. He also served as the Chairman of the Advisory Group for Securities Regulation for the Reserve Bank of India.

Remaining staunchly apolitical, Deepak Parekh has worked tirelessly in the interests of the country and was even honoured with Padma Bhushan award. In 2010, he became the first international recipient of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales' Outstanding Achievement Award, for his invaluable contribution to the profession of accountancy and finance.

With an illustrious career that spans over 40 years, Deepak Parekh will remain a benchmark of knowledge and erudition.