In a move aimed at strengthening its alternatives platform, SBI Funds Management Limited has announced the appointment of Dhruva Agarwal as Senior Management Personnel, with effect from October 7, 2026, to serve as Head of Alternates. The decision, taken by the company’s board via a circular resolution, signals a deliberate push to deepen capabilities in private markets as demand for diversified, non-traditional assets grows among investors.
Agarwal arrives at SBI Funds Management with more than two decades of experience in private capital investing, fund raising, and portfolio management across India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. He was most recently a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at DWS Asset Management, Singapore, where he led private capital investments across multiple regions. His track record also spans roles with BlackRock Asia Pacific Alternative Private Credit, Baring Private Equity Asia – Credit Fund, Barclays, Edelweiss Financial Services, and Infosys Technologies in the APAC region, underscoring a breadth of governance and risk discipline that the firm may seek to translate into its alternatives business.
Industry observers have noted that asset managers are racing to expand private markets capabilities as liquidity preferences evolve. Agarwal’s appointment, focused on building out an integrated alternates platform, could help SBI Funds Management align its investment approach with rising appetite for diversified strategies, while strengthening governance and risk oversight across complex portfolios. The move reflects a broader industry emphasis on seasoned leadership to steer sophisticated strategies through an increasingly dynamic market landscape.
Overall, the leadership addition arrives as SBI Funds Management reinforces its talent base to navigate the fast-changing terrain of asset management in India, signaling a commitment to scaling its alternatives business with experienced leadership at the helm.