Mr. Rao is responsible for overall financial control, planning, treasury, taxation, financial information systems and commercial aspects of the group's business. He joined the company 1988 as group financial controller. He was named chief financial officer in 1997 and also serves as chief financial officer of the holding company, Shangri-La Asia Limited. He was previously with a leading chartered accountancy practice in Mumbai, India for 17 years, including 12 years as partner. Mr. Rao is a graduate of the University of Mumbai and a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. He placed among the top 10 students India-wide at the intermediate and final chartered accountancy examinations in 1972 and 1974.