Manish Kanojia has been appointed as Managing Director – Business Development at Samara Capital.In his new role, Manish will lead business development, fundraising, and distribution initiatives at the firm, steering strategic partnerships and investor engagement to strengthen Samara Capital’s growth and market presence. His appointment reflects the firm’s commitment to building a robust leadership foundation to drive expansion across investment verticals and deepen relationships with institutional and private investors.
With over two decades of experience across the financial services industry, Manish brings a proven track record in sales leadership, distribution strategy, and partnership management. Before joining Samara Capital, he served as National Sales Head at Abakkus Asset Manager LLP, where he was instrumental in shaping national sales strategy, enhancing investor outreach, and scaling the firm’s distribution network. His leadership was marked by strong performance in asset mobilization, strategic channel expansion, and aligning product portfolios with investor objectives.
Earlier in his career, Manish spent more than a decade with Nippon India Mutual Fund (formerly Reliance Mutual Fund), where he managed key banking alliances and national-level partnerships. As Segment Manager for Retail and Private Sector Banks, he led central tie-ups, optimized business collaboration frameworks, and drove mutual fund sales across India. His ability to balance relationship management with performance metrics positioned him as one of the key growth enablers for the organization’s retail and private banking verticals.
Manish’s earlier stints include leadership roles at Principal Mutual Fund, Kotak Mahindra, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, and Reliance Communications. Each of these roles added to his depth of experience in channel management, financial product distribution, and client acquisition. His career trajectory reflects a steady rise through roles of increasing responsibility, underscoring his expertise in business strategy, investor engagement, and operational execution within India’s evolving financial ecosystem.
At Samara Capital, Manish’s appointment is expected to accelerate the firm’s fundraising momentum and strengthen its institutional outreach. His strategic acumen, extensive industry network, and hands-on leadership style will be key to expanding Samara’s investor base, deepening stakeholder relationships, and driving sustainable value creation. The organization looks forward to leveraging his vast experience to further its vision of growth, innovation, and partnership-driven success.