360 ONE WAM Limited has appointed former Jefferies India head Aashish Agarwal as CEO, effective February 15, 2027. Current MD and CEO Karan Bhagat will transition to the role of Vice-Chairman and Managing Director. This restructuring aims to integrate the firm's wealth, asset, and capital markets verticals to support long-term growth.
360 ONE WAM Announces Major Leadership Transition
Aashish Agarwal appointed as CEO; Karan Bhagat transitions to Vice-Chairman and Managing Director effective February 15, 2027.
Reader Takeaway: Leadership shift signals long-term strategic integration of wealth and asset management verticals to drive institutional scale.
What just happened
The board of 360 ONE WAM has approved a significant leadership overhaul. Aashish Agarwal, formerly the Country Head of Jefferies India, will take over as CEO. Current Managing Director and CEO Karan Bhagat will transition to the newly created role of Vice-Chairman and Managing Director. Bhagat is confirmed to serve in this capacity until July 26, 2030, ensuring continuity in the firm's long-term vision.
Why this matters
This transition separates the executive execution of daily operations from high-level group strategy. By bringing in an investment banking veteran like Agarwal, the firm aims to bolster its capital markets and institutional relationships. Meanwhile, Bhagat’s new role allows him to focus exclusively on group-level capital allocation and institutional strategy, a pivot common among maturing financial service giants in India.
The background of the new CEO
Aashish Agarwal brings extensive experience in capital markets. Before joining 360 ONE, he led Jefferies India as Managing Director and Country Head for nearly seven years. His previous career includes a 13-year stint at CLSA as Head of Research and an early career role at Merrill Lynch. He is a Chartered Accountant by profession.
What changes now
The management stated the restructuring is intended to harmonize the three pillars of the company: Wealth Management, Asset Management, and Capital Markets. This unified platform approach is expected to streamline client experience as the firm continues to scale its operations to meet the demands of the growing Indian wealth sector.
Context metrics
360 ONE WAM currently manages over Rs 7.8 lakh crore in assets, serving a client base exceeding 8,900 families and institutions.