Former Chairman and Managing Director, Bank of Maharashtra
Profile by Dr. Jeanette Pinto
Allen C A Pereira was born in Mangaluru on September 16, 1950, and completed his education from St. Aloysius College, having graduated in History and Economics. He earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) specializing in Labour Welfare and Industrial Organization from the University of Mysore in 1972.
He joined Syndicate Bank as a Probationary Officer at Manipal, and his career in this bank spanned 33 years, where he shouldered administrative and operational responsibilities, like Personnel Administration and Industrial Relations. He was Visiting Faculty at the bank’s Apex and Regional Training Centres, and Manager of Branches in Goa and Delhi.
He gained vast experience in Agriculture and SME Finance, Retail Corporate and International Banking. His career graph took him through various banking departments, and he soon climbed up the ladder to occupy the position of Chairman and Managing Director.
He was Personnel Advisor in Indian Banks’ Association from 1999-2002 at Mumbai, and was closely associated with the work of IBA’s HRM Committee for Public Sector Banks. During this period, he also functioned as the CEO of Banks’ Sports Board. In 2006, he moved over to the Oriental Bank of Commerce, with its headquarters at Delhi, as the Executive Director.
In June 2008, he took over leadership of the Bank of Maharashtra as its Chairman and Managing Director, and superannuated on September 30, 2010. After superannuation in 2010, he took over the reins of the National Institute of Bank Management set-up by the RBI and Banks of Pune.
Impressed with his profile, Allen was asked the secret of his success, and his reply was “I could not have achieved all this without self-discipline and hard work. I was fair and firm in all my dealings, and had no hierarchical barriers between me, my peers, and my juniors.” He also suggested that he stood for his convictions, took on responsibility, was transparent and made speedy decisions, whenever needed.
With such a glowing career, Allen has done the Mangalorean community proud. After retirement, he returned to his roots, and is now living in Kulshekar, Mangaluru. He is invited to be a member of various organizations. He is Vice-President of the Konkani Language and Cultural Foundation World Konkani Centre, Shakti Nagar, Mangaluru. He also holds advisory positions in several institutions of learning in Mangaluru and Manipal.
Allen was a good athlete in school, and also played hockey, cricket, table tennis and badminton. His hobbies are philately, music, reading; and he loves nature. His late father, William Peter Pereira, was ex Q.P.C. at Doha, Qatar. His mother, Bridget Angeline (nee Rego), was a well-known social worker, active in vocational training for women. She was Founder of the first Mahila Mandal in Kulshekar, recognised as one of the best in Karnataka. Allen’s wife, Eveline, former lecturer at KMC Manipal, and a medical social worker is enjoying her sunset years. Their son, Angelo, a Post Graduate in Electronics from Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA, is working as Manager (Research and Design) at Texas Instruments, Dallas, Texas, USA; and their daughter, Angeline, a Graduate from MIT Manipal is working as an Associate Consultant with TCS, Mumbai.
Allen C A Pereira has been appreciated by various organizations for his excellent leadership. He was awarded the Vishishta Kannadiga Award 2007 from Karnataka Sangha, Delhi, in recognition of his contribution to the field of Banking; TMC Excellence Award in March 2010 from the top Management Consortium, Pune; Rotary Award for Professional Excellence 2008-2009 from Rotary International District 3050 / Ahmedabad; Eminent Aloysius Award 2014 presented by the St. Aloysius College Alumni Association; and The New Year 2016 Award for outstanding services to the society by the Manipal University and Syndicate Bank. Truly, he is a wonderful leader for our aspiring Generation Next, to imitate.
His message to young people is “if one is passionate about touching people’s lives, and making themselves self-reliant, the banking profession offers a great number of opportunities”. He proudly claims that the best achievement in life is to be a good human being, and credits his parents for having taught him valuable unforgettable lessons.
We are proud of you, Allen C A Pereira. May your life be an inspiration to many of our young people in Amchi Mumbai.
