Shivdutt Das is an Indian business executive, economist, and philanthropist serving as Group Managing Director of Vishwa Samudra Holdings, a $3 billion conglomerate headquartered in Hyderabad. With over 24 years of global work experience in strategic finance, international business, manufacturing, risk management, and infrastructure projects, he has transitioned from corporate leadership roles at major companies including United Spirits, ICICI Prudential, Bharti AXA Life Insurance, Tata AIA, Reliance Nippon, and D.Y. Patil Healthcare.
Appointed as Managing Director of Vishwa Samudra Holdings in January 2025, he oversees the group’s diverse portfolio spanning engineering, marine, aviation, manufacturing, and real estate across India and internationally. Beyond corporate responsibility, he serves as a mentor and angel investor supporting startup acceleration, an art philanthropist preserving Indian cinema heritage through the Shivdutt Das Art Foundation, and an author having published the coffee table book “Dugga Dugga” exploring Durga Puja traditions across Indian geographies.
Who is Shivdutt Das?
Shivdutt Das represents a rare combination of corporate excellence, entrepreneurial vision, and cultural philanthropy in contemporary Indian business. His career exemplifies strategic leadership across multiple sectors, demonstrating adaptability and business acumen across diverse industries.
Beyond the boardroom, he is recognized as a cultural custodian—founding the Shivdutt Das Art Foundation to preserve and celebrate Indian cinema’s visual heritage through exhibitions, archives, and public programming. His work includes organizing international exhibitions featuring photographs from classic Indian films, bringing together leading Bollywood personalities and civic dignitaries.
His philosophy emphasizes people-first organizational culture, sustainable business practices, and philanthropic engagement with underprivileged communities through education and social enterprises.
Shivdutt Das Age
Based on available professional records, Shivdutt Das was born in 1979, making him approximately 46-47 years old as of January 2026. His LinkedIn profile indicates graduation in 1999 with a degree in Economics from Utkal University, consistent with a 1979 birth year.
Shivdutt Das Biography Table
Early Life and Background
Shivdutt Das grew up in India with an inclination toward economics, mathematics, and business education. His educational foundation combined humanities with rigorous business training, shaping his approach to management.
During his undergraduate years at Utkal University in Odisha, he excelled academically and engaged in extracurricular activities including national junior basketball competitions, indicating early leadership and competitive instincts. His graduation with First Class distinction in Economics demonstrated exceptional intellectual capacity.
Following his undergraduate degree, he pursued business and management education systematically, completing an MBA at the National Institute of Human Resource Development and advanced management training at Harvard Business School. This educational trajectory from humanities to advanced business administration equipped him for senior corporate roles.
Shivdutt Das Education
Shivdutt completed his schooling at B.J.E.M. School, building foundational academic and character development. He then attended Utkal University in Odisha, where he pursued intermediate studies in Physics and Electronics (1994-1996), followed by undergraduate studies in Economics with First Class with Distinction honors (1996-1999).
During his university years, he represented Utkal University in the National Junior Basketball Championship, indicating athletic commitment and competitive excellence. Additionally, he received training through the NCC Air Wings as a Gliding Cadet, gaining aviation exposure and military discipline.
For postgraduate education, he completed his MBA in Human Resources and Marketing from the National Institute of Human Resource Development (NIHRD) (1999-2001), followed by Masters in Financial Services Planning, Strategic Initiatives & Talent Management from Harvard Business School Executive Education (2013-2015).
This comprehensive educational foundation combined economics scholarship with advanced business training, international exposure at Harvard, and practical HR experience.
Shivdutt Das Profession
Shivdutt works in multiple professional capacities:
Corporate Executive: Group Managing Director overseeing Vishwa Samudra Holdings’ Treasury, Risk Management, Corporate Governance, Legal, and International Business functions
Entrepreneur & Co-Founder: Co-founder and former CEO of Tenth Planet Group, India’s digital technology company specializing in experiential marketing and MICE events (2016-2018)
Angel Investor & Mentor: Angel investor supporting startup acceleration and mentor at Summit Studios supporting emerging filmmakers
Philanthropist: Founder of Shivdutt Das Art Foundation preserving Indian cinema heritage and visual storytelling traditions
Author: Published “Dugga Dugga,” a coffee table book exploring Durga Puja traditions and cultural connections across Indian geographies
Art Curator & Cultural Leader: Organizer of major international art exhibitions celebrating Indian cinema’s visual legacy
Shivdutt Das Career Journey
Early Corporate Career (1999–2006)
Shivdutt began his professional journey at Rhizome, a unit of United Spirits Limited, serving as Regional Business Head from 1999-2006 operating across Chennai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. This seven-year role provided foundational experience in business operations, sales strategy, and regional market management.
His early tenure built expertise in leading teams, managing regional profitability, and understanding India’s expanding consumer markets during the early 2000s.
Insurance & Financial Services Phase (2006–2015)
Transitioning to financial services, Shivdutt joined ICICI Prudential Life Insurance as Branch Sales Manager in Bhubaneswar from May-November 2006, providing direct exposure to insurance distribution and retail client management.
This led to a significant seven-year engagement with Bharti AXA Life Insurance (December 2006-May 2013), where he served as Vice President for Agency Development and Head of Premier Relationship, overseeing business development, agency initiatives, recruitment, and performance management.
In May 2013, he moved to Tata AIA Life Insurance as Vice President of Distribution Intelligence, Strategic Initiatives & Product Management (May 2013-August 2014), followed by promotion to Vice President of Business Intelligence, Digital Marketing & Product Development (July-September 2014).
Subsequently, he joined Reliance Nippon Life Insurance as EVP and Head of Business Transformation (September 2014-March 2016), where as CEO Executive Council member he directed premier distribution strategy, direct marketing, business analytics, digitization, and sales commercials.
Healthcare Leadership & Entrepreneurship (2016–2023)
After 2016, Shivdutt transitioned into entrepreneurship and healthcare leadership. He co-founded and served as CEO of Tenth Planet Group (April 2016-July 2018), establishing India’s leading digital technology company specializing in experiential marketing, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Events), and travel technology.
This entrepreneurial venture demonstrated his ability to build organizations from inception, requiring product innovation, team development, and market positioning.
In August 2018, he became Group Chief Executive Officer of Victorian Design Studio (August 2018-June 2021), operating multiple business lines across Mumbai, Dubai, London, and Amsterdam covering market research, travel technology, management consulting, experiential events, digital technology, and executive search.
Shifting focus to healthcare and education, he served as Managing Director & CEO Healthcare for Ajeenkya D.Y. Patil Group (June 2021-April 2023), overseeing Zodiac Healotronics and Grand Port Hospital in Mumbai, managing healthcare operations and institutional growth.
Vishwa Samudra Leadership (2023–Present)
In April 2023, Shivdutt joined Vishwa Samudra Engineering Pvt. Ltd. as Executive Director, assuming responsibility for Treasury, Risk Management, Corporate Governance, and Legal functions at group level, along with fund-raising for projects exceeding $2.3 billion.
In January 2025, he was promoted to Group Managing Director of Vishwa Samudra Holdings, overseeing the entire $3 billion conglomerate’s strategy, finance, international operations, and stakeholder management. Under his leadership contribution, the group expanded internationally with operations in the Middle East, Europe, South America, USA, Guyana, Tanzania, and Maldives.
The group achieved ₹1,000 crore in annual revenue in 2023 and manages infrastructure projects valued at over $2.3 billion across engineering, marine, aviation, manufacturing, and real estate sectors.
Philanthropic & Cultural Initiatives (2020–Present)
Parallel to corporate responsibilities, Shivdutt founded the Shivdutt Das Art Foundation to preserve Indian cinema’s visual heritage. In September 2025, the foundation unveiled “Enduring Legacies: Edition 1 – Timeless Frames: A Photographic Journey Through Indian Cinema,” a six-day exhibition at the Dilip Piramal Art Gallery, NCPA Mumbai celebrating veteran film still photographer Damodar Kamat.
This exhibition featured rare photographs from classic Indian films including collaborations with legendary directors Raj Kapoor, Guru Dutt, and Bimal Roy. The opening was attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister, civic dignitaries, and Bollywood personalities including Rekha, Zeenat Aman, Anil Kapoor, Ajay Devgn, Kajol, Ranbir Kapoor, and Alia Bhatt.
Additionally, he mentors emerging filmmakers through Summit Studios as a mentor and angel investor, supporting progressive film content across multiple languages and platforms.
Author & Intellectual Contributions (2024–Present)
Shivdutt authored “Dugga Dugga,” a coffee table book exploring Durga Puja traditions and their cultural connections across Indian geographies. The book represents his intellectual engagement with Indian cultural studies and heritage preservation.
He has been featured as a speaker at ET Edge’s “Best Organisations to Work For 2025,” presenting perspectives on workplace culture, employee well-being, and organizational strategy.
Shivdutt Das Achievements
Throughout his career, Shivdutt accomplished significant professional and cultural milestones:
- Over 24 years in senior corporate leadership across diverse industries
- Group Managing Director of $3 billion conglomerate managing international operations
- Infrastructure projects portfolio exceeding $2.3 billion in India and internationally
- Growth leadership: Contributed to Vishwa Samudra achieving ₹1,000 crore+ annual revenue milestone
- Startup ecosystem participation: Early investor in Swiggy pre-IPO, mentor and angel investor supporting emerging entrepreneurs
- FICCI National Executive member representing India’s Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry
- Harvard Business School graduate in Financial Services Planning and Strategic Management
- Art Foundation founder preserving Indian cinema heritage through international exhibitions
- Published author: “Dugga Dugga” coffee table book on cultural traditions
- First-generation corporate leader: Built career through merit and educational excellence
- ET Edge recognition: Featured at “Best Organisations to Work For 2025” for organizational culture leadership
Shivdutt Das Family
Marriage & Personal Life
Shivdutt married Sonam Das, also described as a philanthropist with deep commitment to social causes and community development. The couple maintains a collaborative partnership in both professional and philanthropic endeavors.
Together, they are recognized in social circles celebrating heritage, cultural preservation, and friendship among Mumbai’s business and entertainment elite. Recently, they were photographed alongside actor Anil Kapoor and wife Sunita Kapoor returning from Haridwar, indicating their participation in spiritual and cultural celebrations.
Sonam Das is identified as a philanthropist engaged in educational initiatives, particularly supporting underprivileged children through various educational programs. Her work complements Shivdutt’s vision for sustainable social impact.
The couple maintains a private family life focused on their children’s development, though specific details about offspring remain undisclosed. Their public engagement prioritizes professional achievements and philanthropic work rather than personal life documentation.
Shivdutt’s leisure interests include golf, with participation in prestigious tournaments like the Legends of Golf, where he competes alongside cricket World Cup-winning Captain Kapil Dev and international golf professionals. He is also an avid animal lover and sports enthusiast.
Shivdutt Das Net Worth
While specific net worth figures are not publicly disclosed, Shivdutt’s wealth derives from multiple sources including corporate compensation, business ownership, investment portfolio, and intellectual property.
Estimated Income Sources
Corporate Salary: As Group Managing Director of Vishwa Samudra Holdings managing a $3 billion conglomerate, his executive compensation represents significant income
Investment Portfolio: Early investor in Swiggy pre-IPO, angel investor in emerging startups, and equity stakeholder in Vishwa Samudra Holdings’ operations
Project Fund-raising: Responsible for mobilizing capital exceeding $2.3 billion for major infrastructure projects, providing management fees and commission structures
Author Royalties: “Dugga Dugga” coffee table book provides ongoing intellectual property income
Consulting & Mentorship: Angel investor compensation and advisory roles at Summit Studios and various startups
Art Foundation Initiatives: Philanthropic organization may generate revenue through exhibitions, publications, and licensing
His wealth accumulation reflects successful navigation across multiple business sectors and early-stage investment decisions in high-growth companies like Swiggy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Born in 1979, he is approximately 46-47 years old as of January 2026.
He serves as Group Managing Director of Vishwa Samudra Holdings, a $3 billion conglomerate headquartered in Hyderabad, India.
He is married to Sonam Das, a philanthropist engaged in educational and social initiatives.
He holds a B.A. in Economics (First Class with Distinction) from Utkal University, MBA from NIHRD, and Masters in Financial Services Planning from Harvard Business School.
Over 24 years of global work experience in strategic finance, international business, manufacturing, and infrastructure projects.
Shivdutt Das exemplifies contemporary Indian business leadership combining corporate excellence with cultural stewardship and philanthropic commitment. His trajectory from finance professional to conglomerate managing director demonstrates adaptability across sectors while maintaining focus on people-first organizational culture and sustainable value creation. His parallel engagement in art preservation, startup mentorship, and education for underprivileged communities reflects a holistic vision of business responsibility extending beyond shareholder returns to community and cultural impact.
