Balagopal Chandrasekhar is the Chairman of the Board of Federal Bank Ltd. He is also on the Governing Body of the Centre for Management Development Trivandrum, Advisory Board of Fourth Wave Foundation, Member of the Board of TIMed Medical Devices Incubator of SCTIMST, and Member, Advisory Board of IIT Palakkad. Having completed his BA and MA from Loyola College, Madras University, he joined the IAS in 1977. He worked in the IAS in Manipur and Kerala till 1983 when he resigned to promote a venture to make hi-tech biomedical devices for the first time in the country.
Acquiring the knowhow from Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology, Trivandrum (SCTIMST) and with the support of National Research Development Corporation and KSIDC, he set up his venture near Trivandrum. From those small beginnings, he grew the venture into the largest maker of blood bag systems in the world, exporting products to more than 50 countries. In 2012, he sold the company to a leading Japanese maker of medical products, and turned to investing in startups, mentoring entrepreneurs, writing, travel and his many other interests. With his wife Vinita, he set up and runs ANAHA Trust, which funds socially useful programs and projects, in the fields of primary health, primary education, and rural livelihoods. Projects supported by the Trust are in operation in Kerala and Manipur.
He has written three books: On A Clear Day You Can See India, The View From Kollam, And Maveli & Markets: How Supplyco Held The Price Line. Balagopal is a sought after speaker to professional bodies and students, and participates in webinars and discussions online. He is active on social media, and his Facebook page with commentary on contemporary affairs and is followed by many.