Ash Lilani

Ash Lilani is responsible for SVB Global, which consists of SVB’s global market activities, and SVB’s strategy to promote technology, venture capital, entrepreneurship, banking, and financial solutions to technology and life science companies globally. In addition, Lilani sets the strategy and oversees the operation of SVB’s international subsidiaries in London, Bangalore and Shanghai, and future openings in locations including Israel. Additionally, he is also responsible for SVB’s international venture capital and private equity investments along with SVB’s international VC banking portfolio. Previously, Lilani served as senior vice president and manager of SVB Silicon Valley Bank’s South Bay region, located in the heart of Silicon Valley. In that role, he was responsible for all commercial banking activity in Northern California’s South Bay region from January of 2002 until May 2004. During this time, Lilani also served as the country head, India, responsible for the company’s network and activities in India. In his ongoing effort to help venture capital clients better understand and leverage India, Lilani led 23 Silicon Valley venture capitalists on a networking and educational expedition to India in November 2003 and another group to China in June 2004. The trips exposed clients to SVB’s connections and clientele in India and China and helped them better understand what it takes to work with Indian and Chinese companies and do business in the regions. In 1997, Lilani opened Silicon Valley Bank’s Philadelphia office and managed this and the New York regional offices through 2001. By 2001, under Lilani’s leadership, the region had expanded to include coverage of New York, Connecticut, Delaware and New Jersey. Before joining SVB, Lilani held technology-lending positions at Meridian Bank and CoreStates Bank, serving as vice president at both companies. Lilani co-founded the technology lending practice at Meridian Bank. Lilani is a charter member of TiE, a network for U.S. and Indian entrepreneurs. He is also a member of TiE’s Silicon Valley Venture Capital Advisory Board and a member of its Cross-Border CXO Forum. He is a founding member, current director and treasurer of the U.S. -India Venture Capital Association. He has served on the investment committee of the Ben Franklin Technology Center, an organization that assists entrepreneurs in Pennsylvania. In addition, he has served as president and a member of the board of the Greater Philadelphia Venture Group. He is constantly on the speaking circuit in regard to venture and business activities in the global arena and was named one of Silicon Valley’s 40 most influential business people under 40 in 2005 by the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal. Lilani holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from Bangalore University and has an MBA from Philadelphia University.