Meet Our Leadership Team

At Echios, we are proud to have assembled a team of some of the most accomplished and dedicated professionals. Our team members come from a diverse range of backgrounds and have a wealth of experience and expertise to draw upon. They are highly engaging, passionate and committed to delivering the best possible results for our clients.

Our coaches and trainers have a wide range of skills and specialities, including leadership development, financial training and behavioral change. They are experts in their respective fields and have a proven track record of success. They are dedicated to continuous learning and professional development, ensuring that they are always up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in their respective areas of expertise.

Neel Bhandari

CEO of Americas

Neel is a highly accomplished professional development trainer with a wealth of experience working with Fortune 500 businesses and individual clients. He has been a leading consultant in the financial industry for the past 15 years, providing expert training and guidance to organizations of all sizes.

Neel is known for his enthusiasm and engaging training style, as well as his ability to design innovative learning and development programs. He has a particular focus on enhancing performance in the corporate world, working with everyone from graduates to top executives to help them reach their full potential.

Gilad Christie

Chairman

Gil is an accomplished professional with a wealth of experience in the field of education technology and training. He is the co-founder and former CEO of the 7city Learning Group, one of the most successful privately held EdTech companies in the world.

Over the past 20 years, Gil has designed and delivered training programs for some of the world’s largest financial institutions and asset managers, with a focus on capital and derivative markets, asset management, valuation, and accounting. He is a highly skilled and knowledgeable trainer, with a deep understanding of the financial industry and a passion for helping people develop their professional skills.

Sanjay Bhandari

CEO of EMEA

Sanjay is a distinguished CEO with a wealth of experience spanning over 20 years. He has built a strong reputation as both a thought leader and innovator, working with some of the world’s most successful companies. With a foundation in Global Markets and business, his expertise has been highly sought after to lead companies through transformative change and assist them in building their talent. He has worked with Chief of Staff and CEO’s across hedge funds and investment banks, as well as providing executive 1:1 coaching. He has an impressive roster of clients including Nomura, Numis, Fidelity, Brevan Howard, NatWest, and Bank of America to name a few.

Sanjay has established himself as a prominent leader in the field of training and development, with a keen focus on diversity and women’s empowerment. He is passionate about helping others achieve their full potential and harnessing individual strengths to achieve success. In addition to his work with corporate clients, Sanjay is a coveted speaker and has delivered talks on leadership, teamwork, and innovation, worldwide. Whether working with executive teams or individuals, he brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion to every engagement.

Vishaka Serres

VP of Strategy

Vishaka is a driven individual that has worked with a diverse population in different languages to improve their communication skills. She completed her master’s degree at Columbia University. With her knowledge and degree in Speech language Pathology she facilitates the trainers in the Echios team on essential information and terminology in the field of SLP. She supports clients on the processes involved in Speech and language to enhance effective communication. She manages the organization and planning of Echios’ growth strategies to successfully meet client’s needs.

Rupa Patel

COO

As the Operations Officer of Echios, Rupa plays a vital role in the company’s success. With over 6 years of experience in financial and strategic management, Rupa is well-equipped to develop innovative ways of streamlining processes, making the management of business functions more effective and efficient.

Rupa also works closely with external professionals to make sure that the value they bring to the company is integrated seamlessly into our core business functions. This allows us to remain competitive and continue to provide our clients with the highest-quality training and support. He is an important member of the Echios team and plays a vital role in ensuring that our company runs smoothly and efficiently.

Meera Brij

Partnerships Director

Meera is an experienced consultant with over 12 years of expertise in developing talent for enterprise organizations. She has a wealth of knowledge in the areas of digital, data and analytics, and has worked with a wide range of clients across the globe.

Meera excels in collaborating with C-level directors and finding solutions that meet the unique needs of her clients, she has a proven track record of training sales teams and building strong partnerships with corporate banks, hedge funds and asset management companies. Her ability to travel and work with clients from different countries and cultures, allows her to understand and meet the specific needs of her clients, becoming a trusted advisor to them.

CK Bhaumik

CTO

CK is an experienced software engineer and business analyst with over 20 years of experience. He is an exceptionally skilled and technical trainer, known for his ability to break down complex subjects such as technology and information security into understandable and relatable content that suits the needs of the particular client. His sessions in these fields are in high demand.

CK has a wealth of knowledge and coaching skills, and has delivered multiple cloud-based Management Information Systems to businesses worldwide, including the UK, US, Canada, and India. He has a keen interest in new and effective coding methodologies, Cloud native developments, Machine Learning, and Blockchain technologies. His expertise in these areas makes him a valuable asset to the Echios team and a trusted advisor to our clients.

Kay Fournier

Head of Client Services

Kay is an experienced Human Resources professional with a background in the education industry. She is deeply passionate about finding ways to enrich the lives of her clients through innovative and effective services.

In her role as part of the Echios team, Kay combines her creativity, communication skills and organizational abilities to build strong, trusting relationships with a diverse range of clients. By leveraging her expertise in Human Resources, she is able to help clients understand the culture and values of Echios, and how these align with their own goals. Kay’s dedication to her clients and her ability to connect with them on a personal level make her an invaluable asset to the Echios team.

Neel Shah

Head of Financial Training

Neel Shah is an experienced financial trainer with over 10 years of experience. He has a clear passion for teaching financial and digital concepts in a way that makes it easier for his clients to understand and progress. Neel has a wealth of experience working with professionals at all levels, from graduates to management, and he is known for his adaptable, charismatic and confident approach that instills confidence and security in his clients.

He has worked with some of the most reputable companies in the industry such as RBS, JP Morgan, Bank of America, Citigroup, Barclays, Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, UBS, Brewin Dolphin, Rothschild, Wells Fargo and HSBC. His specialist areas include Data Science, Global Markets, Investment Banking, Regulations and ESG.

Mark Anderson

Head of Professional Skills

Mark is Head of Professional Skills and has been delivering high-energy, powerful training and coaching in the finance, tech, and consulting sectors for the last 5 years. His clients include Brevan Howard, Harvard, Kingstreet Capital, JP Morgan, Alvarez and Marsal, Bank of America, Nomura, Winton Capital and many more.

Mark has helped hundreds of leaders develop the skills they need to communicate with influence, deliver meaningful feedback, inspire those around them, hold people accountable, and build the type of trust that gets results. He also works with junior individuals, developing the foundational skills they require to hit the ground running and start their careers with a clear trajectory for long-term success.
His key focus areas are how to communicate to influence, understanding emotional intelligence, how to build and maintain trust, how to pitch and negotiate, and ultimately how to get the most out of yourself and others. He has received phenomenal feedback during his career and is always pushing himself to ensure he achieves maximum engagement with high-impact interactive training and coaching sessions that create self-motivated transformation and long-lasting change.

Priya Mehra

Head of DE&I

Priya is an experienced professional, revered in the financial services industry. She has a notable background in training senior leaders and industry experts across esteemed companies such as Harvard, Bank of America, Natixis, Wolters Kluwer, A&M, JP Morgan, Nomura and Brevan Howard. Her unwavering dedication to promoting women’s empowerment and spearheading diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives is evident in her role as the Head of DE&I and Women’s Empowerment.

She is a transformative trainer who coaches individuals, delivers captivating keynote speeches, and facilitates interactive training sessions worldwide. Her relentless commitment to driving change, combined with her infectious energy, creates an atmosphere of excitement and motivation, propelling individuals, and organizations toward unprecedented success.

As the Head of DE&I and Women’s Empowerment, Priya takes the lead in fostering a culture of inclusivity and empowerment, ensuring that diverse perspectives are celebrated and amplified. Her visionary approach and strategic initiatives have revolutionized organizations, paving the way for a future where all individuals can thrive and excel.

Hannah Merriman

Lead Learning Consultant

Hannah is an experienced professional in the field of training, teaching, and coaching with over 10 years of experience. She excels in facilitating learning and development programs and is known for her unique, engaging, and enthusiastic approach. As the lead learning consultant for Echios, she also manages several programs to ensure seamless delivery and exceptional service.

Her professional skills coaching, and technical training have been used by clients such as FT Partners, Brevan Howard, Balayasney Asset Management, Numis, Nomura, and JP Morgan. Hannah’s dynamic communication skills and ability to connect with her audience instil confidence and creativity in their thinking, equipping them with the necessary skills to make transformational change. Whether leading large teams or working 1:1, Hannah ensures that she gets the most out of the people she is working with.

Kavi Sivyer

Lead Product Designer

Kavi is a highly accomplished facilitator with expertise in User Experience, Digital Marketing & Visual Communication. He has a unique ability to bridge the gap between technologists, designers, and end-users, allowing for more effective and efficient communication and collaboration. With experience in both the technology and marketing industries, Kavi is passionate about sharing his knowledge and insights to provide true value to his clients. He offers consulting solutions and conducts training and simulations to help businesses achieve their goals.

Kavi has a wealth of experience working across New York, LA, London, and Asia for world-leading investment organizations such as Nomura, AIG, Fidelity, A&M, Credit Suisse, Brevan Howard, Engie, and many others. His dynamic delivery engages his clients and creates a positive and interactive learning experience.

Lalita Hughes

Education Partnership Coordinator

Lalita is an accomplished Education Partnership Coordinator at Echios Edu, bringing a unique blend of skills and experiences in education, sales, and administration. Passionate about fostering educational growth, Lalita has hands-on experience creating engaging learning environments and supporting student progress.
With a decade of experience in sales, education and administration. Lalita holds a first-class degree in Performance for Stage and Media, enhancing her creativity and problem-solving skills. Her expertise, combined with a creative mindset, positions Lalita as a valuable asset in forging relationships, facilitating partnerships, and implementing innovative educational initiatives for organization and her clients.

xxxxx

Lead Trainer & Coach

With over 10 years of teaching and coaching experience worldwide, Jason is an expert in finance, technology and consultancy. He leads training for large corporate firms including Credit Suisse, Natixis, Wolters Kluwer, A&M, JP Morgan, Ethic Investing, Unified Music Group, BNP Paribas, Northwell Health, and others.  
 
As well as his ability to lead people through core competencies required for success, he is also passionate about encouraging people to live purposefully and confidently. His high impact approach is well received across all clients. Jason also serves as the Head of Tutor Development at Echios. 

Chris Stafford

Content Editor

As a graduate from Becker College with a BA in Interactive Media Design Chris has a healthy level of experience with Adobe After Effects, Photoshop, and Illustrator along with 3D modeling programs such as Autodesk Maya and zBrush. These skills tied with his understanding of today’s market allow for a unique presentation of the training material.

xxxxxx

VP of Strategy

Vishaka is a driven individual that has worked with a diverse population in different languages to improve their communication skills. She completed her master’s degree at Columbia University. With her knowledge and degree in Speech language Pathology she facilitates the trainers in the Echios team on essential information and terminology in the field of SLP. She supports clients on the processes involved in Speech and language to enhance effective communication. She manages the organization and planning of Echios’ growth strategies to successfully meet client’s needs.

FREE DIGITAL IQ PROGRAM DEMO

An Introduction to
Digital IQ

FREE ESG PROGRAM PREVIEW

An Introduction to ESG Investing

FREE TRAINING PROGRAM

Authentic Empowerment: Becoming powerful whilst remaining true to your Authentic self