Kamath also served as ICICI Bank's founder and Managing Director and CEO from 1 May 1996 until his retirement from executive responsibilities on 30 April 2009.

Kamath also serves as an independent director on the boards of the Houston-based oil services company Schlumberger since 2010, and the Indian pharmaceutical manufacturer Lupin.

[9] After graduating from IIM Ahmedabad in 1971, Kamath started his career with ICICI (Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India) in the Project Finance division and moved on to different departments to gather experience, including establishing new business lines such as leasing, venture capital, and credit ratings as well as handling general management responsibilities.

Substantial investments in technology from those early years have resulted in systems that are today a competitive advantage for ICICI.

[11] His principal work experience at ADB was in various projects in China, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Bangladesh, and Vietnam.

[15] After being appointed as the first chief of the New Development Bank set up by the BRICS, he went on to step down from this post of Chairman and Independent Director effective 5 June 2015.

He was the Chairman of Governing Board at Indian Institute of Management Indore, until his appointment to the New Development Bank of BRICS countries.