Utkarsh Palnitkar — Leadership Advisory

Introduction

A career built at the
intersection of strategy, policy & enterprise

For over three decades, Utkarsh Palnitkar has been the advisor that some of the world's largest pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have turned to when entering and expanding in India — guiding their market entry strategy, joint ventures, partner search, and growth decisions at the highest levels of corporate leadership.

A Fellow Chartered Accountant and Harvard Business School alumnus, he brings 35 years of experience across the full range of strategic challenges that boards and leadership teams face. While his deepest sector expertise lies in life sciences, his strategic frameworks and board-level judgement apply equally across manufacturing, infrastructure, technology, and financial services.

His career spans Ernst & Young, Centrum Capital, and KPMG India — where he served on the India Leadership Team — and he currently operates an independent practice focused on board governance, strategic advisory, and senior leadership mentoring.

Location
Hyderabad, India

Qualification
FCA — Institute of Chartered Accountants of India

Executive Education
Advanced Management Program, Harvard Business School

Current Focus
Board Governance · Strategic Advisory · Leadership Mentoring

Sector Experience
Life Sciences · Manufacturing · Infrastructure · Technology · Financial Services

Selected Accomplishments

Pioneered Investment Promotion as a consulting practice at EY

Created and led India's first investment promotion consulting practice at Ernst & Young. Vibrant Gujarat — one of the country's most celebrated investment summits — was a landmark engagement under this mandate.

Built investment promotion from zero to market leadership at KPMG

Rebuilt the practice from scratch at KPMG India — achieving market leadership within two years. The only firm to have built dominant investment promotion practices at two of India's Big Four firms.

National Leader, Life Sciences — 15+ years across EY and KPMG

Sustained national leadership of the Life Sciences practice for over 15 years continuously — first at Ernst & Young from inception, then at KPMG — making him the longest-serving Life Sciences practice leader in Indian professional services.

Admitted as Partner at EY within one year — among the youngest in the firm

Elevated to Partner within one year of joining Ernst & Young — one of the youngest Partners in the firm's history in India — having joined as a practitioner and demonstrated leadership capability from the outset.

Grew EY Hyderabad from 5 people to market leadership

As Office Managing Partner, built Ernst & Young's Hyderabad practice from a team of five to a market-leading position — demonstrating the organisational building and P&L ownership that informs his board and advisory work today.

EY Life Sciences brand recall more than twice the nearest competitor

Under his leadership, Ernst & Young's Life Sciences practice achieved media brand recall that was more than double that of any competitor — a measure of the market presence and thought leadership built over his tenure as National Leader.

What I Do

Areas of Engagement

⬡

Board & Governance

Independent Director roles across listed and unlisted companies. Brings 35 years of strategic, financial, and sector expertise to board deliberations — with particular depth in audit, risk, and governance. Currently serves as Audit Committee Chair at Praj Industries and as Independent Director at IKP Science Park and Instillmotion Labs.

Best fit: Companies in Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Infrastructure, and Technology seeking an experienced Independent Director with policy and cross-border credentials.

⬡

Strategic Advisory

Trusted advisor to some of the world's largest pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies on their India entry and growth strategy. Senior advisory mandates spanning India entry, joint ventures, partner search, investment promotion, and cross-border growth. Deep expertise in life sciences; proven strategic frameworks applicable across manufacturing, infrastructure, and technology.

Best fit: Global companies entering or expanding in India; Indian companies seeking international partnerships or capital; boards and leadership teams facing strategic inflection points across any sector.

⬡

Leadership Coaching & Mentoring

One-on-one coaching and mentoring for senior professionals navigating inflection points — stepping into board roles, building an advisory practice, or leading through organisational complexity. Grounded in direct experience across EY, KPMG, and independent practice at the highest levels of Indian business.

Best fit: Senior executives, partners, and emerging board candidates seeking a thinking partner with genuine peer-level experience.

Professional Journey

Career History

2018 — Present

Independent Practice

Independent Consultant & Board Director

Advisory practice focused on life sciences, board governance, joint ventures, cross-border ventures, and growth strategy. Serves as Independent Director on the boards of Praj Industries Ltd., IKP Science Park, and Instillmotion Labs.

2013 — 2018

KPMG India

Member, India Leadership Team — multiple national leadership roles

Joined KPMG as National Head of the Life Sciences practice and Member of the India Leadership Team. Progressively led the Transactions & Restructuring division, the Advisory service line, and the Infrastructure, Government & Healthcare practice. Built market leadership in Investment Promotion from zero to industry dominance within two years. KPMG became the sought-after Knowledge Partner across all key industry associations under his leadership.

2010 — 2013

Centrum Capital Ltd. · Pluripotent Capital

Executive Director — Investment Banking (Life Sciences); Managing Director

Built Centrum Capital's investment banking practice focused on life sciences, structuring debt syndication, private equity, and capital raise transactions. Simultaneously promoted a unique sector-focused life sciences fund through Pluripotent Capital.

1995 — 2010

Ernst & Young (EY)

Partner — admitted within one year of joining, among the youngest Partners in the firm

Developed and led EY's Health Sciences practice as National Leader from its inception, sustaining that leadership for over 15 years. Served as Office Managing Partner for EY Hyderabad, growing the practice from 5 people to market leadership. Engaged with some of the world's largest pharmaceutical and biotech companies on India entry strategy, market expansion, and public-private partnerships. Led India's first and largest biotech cluster — Genome Valley — and served on EY's Global Pharmaceuticals & Biotech Steering Committees. Brand recall for EY's Life Sciences practice was more than twice that of the nearest competitor.

1994 — 1995

Verve Investments & Finance Private Limited

Director

Debt syndication and private equity fund raise.

1987 — 1994

Ashok Rao & Co., Chartered Accountants

Manager, then Partner

Early career in chartered accountancy practice, progressing from Manager to Partner.

National Impact

Pioneering Initiatives

Genome Valley — India's First & Largest Biotech Cluster

Instrumental in establishing Genome Valley in Hyderabad — the country's first and largest biotechnology cluster, now home to hundreds of life sciences companies and a globally recognised hub.

BIRAC — Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council

Contributed to the creation of BIRAC under the Department of Biotechnology, a landmark Government of India body catalysing biotech innovation and startup funding at national scale.

India's First Biotech Incubator

Played a foundational role in establishing India's first biotech-focused incubator, providing early infrastructure for what became a world-class life sciences ecosystem.

India's First Bio-IT Park

Pioneered the establishment of India's first Bio-IT Park — bridging biotechnology and information technology at an inflection point in the country's economic history.

India's First State-Sponsored Life Sciences Fund

Led the creation of the country's first state-sponsored life sciences venture fund, unlocking early-stage capital for biotech innovation at a time when no dedicated funding existed.

Co-Chair — Biotech Parks Committee, Government of India

Served as Co-Chair of the Government of India's Biotechnology Parks Committee, shaping national policy and infrastructure for the country's life sciences cluster development agenda.

Governance

Board Memberships

Independent Director · Audit Committee Chair

Praj Industries Ltd.

Listed Indian company and global leader in bio-energy, high-purity systems, and process equipment. Praj operates across 75+ countries with deep R&D capabilities in sustainable technology.

Independent Director

IKP Science Park

India's premier life sciences knowledge park, providing world-class infrastructure and support for pharmaceutical, biotech, and medtech enterprises in Hyderabad.

Independent Director

Instillmotion Labs Pvt. Ltd.

Hyderabad-based product development company building full-stack hardware systems across aviation security, drone intelligence, and specialist security vehicle sectors.

Public Service

Government & Policy Roles

Current & Senior Government of India Appointments

Member — Investment Committee, BIRAC-RDI Fund Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council · Government of India

Member — Financial Evaluation Committee, BioE3 Policy Department of Biotechnology · Government of India

Co-Chair — Biotechnology Parks Committee Government of India

Co-Chair — Review Committee, CDSA Government of India

Member — AcE Fund Apex Committee Accelerating Entrepreneurs Fund of Funds · Government of India

Member — National Biotech URJIT Cluster Steering Committee University Research Joint Industry Translational · Government of India

Advisor — CSIR, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology Council of Scientific & Industrial Research · Government of India

Industry & Professional Bodies

Member — National Pharmaceuticals Committee Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)

Member — National Pharmaceuticals Committee Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI)

Member — India Advisory Board Biotechnology Industry Organisation (BIO)

Member — Life Sciences Committee Indian Merchants Chamber (IMC)

Member — Global Steering Committee for Pharmaceuticals Ernst & Young Global

Member — Global Steering Committee for Biotechnology Ernst & Young Global

Academic Background

Education & Credentials

Harvard Business School · Boston, USA

Advanced Management Program (AMP)

One of the world's most prestigious executive education programmes, designed for senior leaders driving enterprise transformation and global strategy.

Harvard Business School · Boston, USA

Managing the Professional Services Firm

Specialised executive programme focused on the leadership and management of professional services organisations at scale.

Indian School of Business · Hyderabad

Leadership & Corporate Renewal

Senior leadership programme focused on organisational transformation and corporate renewal strategy.

Institute of Chartered Accountants of India

Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA)

Fellow designation of India's most rigorous professional accountancy qualification, spanning audit, taxation, financial reporting, and business law.

Bombay University

Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com)

Undergraduate foundation in commerce, accounting, and economics.

A career built at theintersection of strategy, policy & enterprise