ICICI Bank vs Kia: Founders, CEOs and History
ICICI Bank was founded in 1994 by Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India and is led by Sandeep Bakhshi. Kia was founded in 1944 by Kim Chul-ho and is led by Ho Sung Song.
Company facts
ICICI Bank
- Founded
- 1994
- Headquarters
- Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
- Current CEO
- Sandeep Bakhshi
- Employees
- 124,029
Kia
- Founded
- 1944
- Headquarters
- Seoul, South Korea
- Current CEO
- Ho Sung Song
- Employees
- 53,200
Founders
ICICI Bank
Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India
The Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India (ICICI) was established in 1955 at the initiative of the World Bank, the Government of India, and representatives of Indian industry.
Kia
Kim Chul-ho
Kia possesses a gritty, foundational founding story, rooted in the desperate industrial infancy of Korea, long before it became an automotive leader, starting entirely with the pragmatic, meticulous manufacturing of bicycle parts.
CEOs and their tenures
ICICI Bank
- K V Kamath1996–2009
CEO & Managing Director
Kamath built ICICI's reputation for technology-led banking, early ATMs, internet banking, and retail credit, and oversaw the 2002 reverse merger that created the modern bank.
Source - Chanda Kochhar2009–2018
CEO & Managing Director
Kochhar expanded ICICI Bank's retail franchise and brand reach, but her tenure ended amid the Videocon controversy and a sharp rise in bad corporate loans.
Source - Sandeep Bakhshi2018–present
Managing Director & CEO
Bakhshi is credited with restoring investor and regulator trust after 2018 and turning ICICI Bank into a lower-risk, steadily compounding lender, with net NPAs around 0.3% in 2026.
Source
Kia
- Euisun Chung2005–present
Executive Chair, Hyundai Motor Group; Kia Board Member
Credited with starting the design-led turnaround that changed how buyers saw Kia.
Source - Han-woo Park2014–2020
Former President and CEO
Serving as CEO from 2014 to 2020, he successfully navigated severe geopolitical tensions (like the THAAD missile crisis in China that crushed sales) while heavily upgrading Kia's global brand perception.
Source - Ho Sung Song2020–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
Revenue grew from about $41.9 billion (KRW 59 trillion) in 2020 to ~$81 billion (KRW 114.1 trillion) in 2025, and the operating margin peaked at 11.8% in 2024 before tariffs cut it to 8.0% in 2025.
Source
Timeline: ICICI Bank and Kia side by side
1944Kia
Founding of Kyungsung Precision Industry
Kim Chul-ho establishes a modest workshop in Seoul dedicated to the manufacturing of steel tubes and bicycle parts, laying the humble groundwork for what would eventually become a global automotive leader and a vital contributor to South Korea's post-war indus…
1955ICICI Bank
ICICI Founded as Development-Finance Institution
ICICI was formed to provide medium- and long-term project finance to Indian businesses.
1974Kia
Launch of the Brisa, Kia's First Passenger Car
Kia launched the Brisa, its first passenger car, built at the Sohari plant that opened in 1973. Kia had built motorcycles and light trucks before this, and the Brisa made it a carmaker.
1986Kia
Launch of the Pride and Global Export Expansion
Through a partnership with Ford and Mazda, Kia returned to passenger cars with the Pride. Abroad it was sold as the Ford Festiva, and it gave Kia its first large export volumes.
1994ICICI Bank
ICICI Bank Incorporated
ICICI Bank was incorporated as part of the ICICI group during India's post-liberalization banking opening. The move gave ICICI a deposit-taking commercial bank able to serve retail, corporate, and transaction-banking customers.
1998Kia
Hyundai Motor Acquires Kia
After Kia collapsed in the 1997 Asian financial crisis and went into court receivership, Hyundai Motor won the 1998 auction for it, beating Ford among other bidders. Kia stayed a separate brand within the new Hyundai Motor Group.
1999ICICI Bank
NYSE Listing Milestone
ICICI became the first Indian company and the first bank or financial institution from non-Japan Asia to list on the New York Stock Exchange. The listing expanded global visibility and imposed a higher disclosure profile on the group.
2001ICICI Bank
Bank of Madura Amalgamation
Bank of Madura was amalgamated with ICICI Bank with effect from March 10, 2001. The deal added branches, customers, and a southern India presence that helped the young bank build distribution faster than organic expansion alone.
2002ICICI Bank
Reverse Merger Created Universal Bank
ICICI, ICICI Personal Financial Services, and ICICI Capital Services merged into ICICI Bank.
2006Kia
Recruitment of Peter Schreyer
The enterprise makes the radical decision to hire former Audi design chief Peter Schreyer as its head of design, initiating a profound aesthetic revolution that introduces the well-known tiger-nose grille and elevates the brand from a budget alternative to a p…
2010ICICI Bank
Bank of Rajasthan Merger
The Bank of Rajasthan merger strengthened ICICI Bank's branch network, especially in northern and western India. The transaction mattered because local branches and deposits still supported private-bank scale even as digital channels were growing.
2011Kia
Launch of the Optima and the Design Renaissance
The Schreyer-designed Optima (K5) sedan brought Kia's new design language to a wide audience and helped it charge more and reach new buyers.
2018ICICI Bank
Sandeep Bakhshi Became MD and CEO
Sandeep Bakhshi became Managing Director and CEO in October 2018 after Chanda Kochhar requested early retirement. His tenure has been associated with a sharper focus on risk controls, asset quality, governance, and steady retail-led growth.
2020Kia
Announcement of the 'Plan S' Strategy
Kia announced Plan S, its mid- to long-term strategy to move from a combustion-focused carmaker toward EVs, purpose-built vehicles and mobility services. In January 2021 it renamed itself Kia Corporation.
2021Kia
Launch of the EV6 and the E-GMP Platform
The company introduces the award-winning EV6, the first dedicated electric vehicle built on the modular E-GMP platform, showcasing ultra-fast 800-volt charging capabilities and groundbreaking design, instantly establishing the enterprise as a serious technolog…
2023Kia
EV9 Launch
Kia launched the EV9, a three-row electric SUV on the E-GMP platform, which went on to win the 2024 World Car of the Year award.
2025ICICI Bank
FY2025 Balance Sheet Scale
The FY2025 integrated report listed Rs 16,103.48B in deposits, Rs 13,417.66B in loans and advances, Rs 21,182.40B in standalone total assets, and a 16.55% capital adequacy ratio.
2025ICICI Bank
FY2025 Profitability
ICICI Bank reported Rs 472.27B in standalone profit after tax and Rs 510.29B in consolidated profit after tax for FY2025. Profitability matters because the bank has to fund technology, compliance, provisions, and growth while keeping capital strong.
2025ICICI Bank
IMobile and Card Scale
IMobile processed 558M transactions worth Rs 11,238B in FY2025, and the bank had close to 18M active credit cards at March 31, 2025.
2025Kia
FY2025 Revenue Reaches KRW 114.141 Trillion
Kia sold a record 3,135,873 vehicles and reported FY2025 revenue of ~$81 billion (KRW 114.1 trillion) (+6.2%). Operating profit fell 28.3% to ~$6.45 billion (KRW 9.08 trillion) as US tariffs cost more than $2.13 billion (KRW 3 trillion).
2026ICICI Bank
Q1 FY2027 Profit Up 15.9%
Standalone profit rose 15.9% to Rs 14,805 crore for April-June 2026, with net interest income up 12.7% and net NPAs at 0.35%.
2026ICICI Bank
Bakhshi Reappointed to 2028
The RBI approved Sandeep Bakhshi's reappointment as MD and CEO for two years from October 4, 2026.
2026ICICI Bank
FY2026 Profit Crosses Rs 50,000 Crore
Standalone net profit rose 6.2% to Rs 50,146.6 crore in FY2026, with a 4.32% net interest margin and 15.8% loan growth.
2026Kia
2030 Targets Set at CEO Investor Day
At its April 2026 CEO Investor Day, Kia set 2030 targets of ~$121 billion (KRW 170 trillion) in revenue, a 10% operating margin and 4.13 million sales. Q2 2026 revenue was a record ~$23.5 billion (KRW 33.04 trillion).
Acquisitions
ICICI Bank
- Bank of Rajasthan2010Undisclosed
- The Sangli Bank2007Undisclosed
- Bank of Madura2001Undisclosed
- Anagram Finance1998Undisclosed
- ITC Classic Finance1997Undisclosed
Kia
- Takeover by Hyundai Motor (Kia acquired)1998Undisclosed
- Asia Motors1976Undisclosed
Questions about ICICI Bank vs Kia
Who is the CEO of ICICI Bank Limited and Kia Corporation?
ICICI Bank Limited is led by Sandeep Bakhshi and Kia Corporation is led by Ho Sung Song. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was ICICI Bank Limited founded vs Kia Corporation?
Kia Corporation was founded in 1944 — 50 years before ICICI Bank Limited, which was founded in 1994. Kia Corporation's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger ICICI Bank Limited.
How many employees does ICICI Bank Limited have compared to Kia Corporation?
ICICI Bank Limited employs approximately 124,029 people, while Kia Corporation employs approximately 53,200. ICICI Bank Limited has the larger workforce at 124,029 employees, compared to Kia Corporation's 53,200. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are ICICI Bank Limited and Kia Corporation headquartered?
ICICI Bank Limited is headquartered in India and Kia Corporation is headquartered in South Korea. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded ICICI Bank Limited and Kia Corporation?
ICICI Bank Limited was founded by Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India. Kia Corporation was founded by Kim Chul-ho.
Which company has a longer operating history — ICICI Bank Limited or Kia Corporation?
Kia Corporation has been operating for approximately 82 years, making it the more established of the two companies. ICICI Bank Limited has been in operation for around 32 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the ICICI Bank vs Kia overview