V. Shankar is CEO of Gateway Partners, a Cayman-based private equity and multi-asset class platform focused on investing in growth opportunities and special situations across Africa, Middle East, South Asia and South East Asia. Until June 2015, Shankar served as Chief Executive Officer, for Europe, Middle East, Africa and Americas, and a member of the board of Standard Chartered Bank.

Shankar is a non-executive director of Majid Al Futtaim Holding LLC and a member of the advisory board of the Institute of Societal Leadership at Singapore Management University. He is Vice Chair of the Future of Banking Council GAC of WEF, and a trustee of Singapore Indian Development Association. He also acts as strategy advisor to KCap Holdings.

Shankar's past appointments in a non-executive capacity on various institutions and committees include the board of the Inland Revenue Authority Singapore; the Economic Strategies Committee and the National Integration Council constituted by the Singapore government; the Sub-Saharan advisory board of the Exim Bank USA; and, Asia Society New York.

Shankar was awarded the Public Service Medal by the Singapore government in 2014. He holds a BSc in Physics from Loyola College and a MBA from Indian Institute Management, Bangalore.