Mumbai: Leading global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) India has announced the expansion of its Disputes and Investigations (DI) practice in Delhi and Bangalore India, with the appointment of Managing Directors, Gagan Puri and Vishal Narula. The arrival of Mr. Puri and Mr. Narula marks the most recent advancement of the firm’s strategic expansion plans and its continued growth in India.
In his current role, Mr. Puri will lead A&M India’s Risk and Regulatory offering and will be responsible for broadening the group’s overall advisory business in North India. Mr. Narula, based in Bangalore, will be involved with broadening the group’s advisory business in South India along with providing Disputes and Investigations services, and consulting on anti-trust matters.
Mr. Puri and Mr. Narula will work closely with the A&M India’s Managing Directors and the firm’s local and global DI leadership teams. Their appointments further A&M’s ability to solve for the growing complexity of corporate investigations, compliance requirements, regulatory enforcement actions, and high stakes litigation facing corporate, law firm, private equity and financial institution clients across India.
Prior to joining A&M, Mr. Puri was a Partner and Leader of PwC’s Forensic Services practice in India. He has over 20 years of experience working across 29 countries on multiple forensic, disputes, risk consulting and regulatory issues. Additionally, Mr. Puri has extensive expertise advising boards, independent directors, senior management, regulators and the legal community on complex, sensitive matters with critical, intricate business consequences. He has advised conglomerates, listed companies, large multinational corporations, promoter groups, investors, foreign and local governments and regulators. Mr. Puri is recognized as one of Who’s Who Legal (WWL) Forensic Accountants and Arbitration Expert Witnesses.
Prior to joining A&M, Mr. Narula served as a PwC Executive Director leading Forensic Services in south India. He has over 16 years of experience, spread across 20 countries. He specializes in crisis management, anti-trust and privileged consulting, and has deep expertise leading on large complex, regional forensic accounting issues. Mr. Narula has worked across multiple sectors including e-commerce, IT and information technology enabled services, food and beverage, manufacturing, media and entertainment, global capability centers, and the government.
Luis de Lucio, Managing Director and Global Practice Leader of A&M’s Emerging Markets said, “A&M’s operational heritage and leadership, action, results mindset positions us to help clients across India maximize value and drive change. Our expanding DI capabilities, locally in India and globally, is in response to the challenges and opportunities sparked by India’s continued growth facing the market.”
Vikram Utamsingh, Managing Director and Country Head, Alvarez & Marsal India, said, “A&M provides a unique entrepreneurial environment for high performing leaders to build businesses with a true sense of ownership. Gagan’s and Vishal’s significant market experience and local networks will benefit our clients regionally and globally. Their expertise aligns with our integrated approach and bolsters our offering across India.”
Dhruv Phophalia, Managing Director and Head of A&M’s Disputes and Investigations practice in India, said, “The addition of Gagan and Vishal augments our capabilities and the growth of our practice in India. Their individual and collective expertise advances our ability to provide differentiated solutions for clients and builds upon our regional presence in Delhi and Bangalore. Their joining expands our range of risk, regulatory and dispute services to corporates and law firms alike.”
Mr. Puri added, “Navigating risk and regulation are top priorities for business today. In dealing with complex litigations or disputes, responding credibly to regulators or on matters such as crisis management, or cyber security, clients require deeper and experienced professional expertise. I am excited to be joining a stellar team at A&M.”