Religare Finvest announced the appointment of Karthik Srinivasan as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He will be formulating and executing the strategy to establish a scaled, multi-line NBFC over the coming years, through a combination of building an expansive phygital distribution network, responsible risk management and credit delivery to customers in the best possible manner using the latest and most relevant technology, including blending of AI tools across work streams. His leadership will also be directed at building and mentoring a high-performing organization across functions, fostering a culture that can sustain growth through credit and business cycles.
Speaking exclusively with Financial Express FUTECH, Srinivasan said, “Our vision is clear, to build a future-ready, digitally enabled, and deeply customer-centric MSE lending institution. one. As Religare re-launches its financial products in the market, we have a unique opportunity to re-imagine every customer, partner, and employee journey through the lens of technology and innovation. We are embedding digital capabilities across on-boarding, credit underwriting, servicing, and engagement, leveraging AI, automated rule engines, and process automation to enable faster decisions, seamless experiences, and more responsible credit delivery. For us, technology is not merely an enabler, it is the foundation on which we will scale with agility, expand access, strengthen trust, and build a lending franchise prepared for the needs of tomorrow.”
He further stated, “At a time when Religare Finvest is poised for its next phase of evolution, my focus will be on strengthening core business fundamentals, investing in people and capabilities, and building a resilient institution that can sustain long-term growth."
Arjun Lamba, Executive Director, Religare Enterprises Limited, said, “We are delighted to welcome Karthik Srinivasan as Chief Executive Officer of Religare Finvest Limited. We believe that his deep domain expertise and proven leadership will play a pivotal role in scaling the business in its next phase of growth. With the strength of Religare’s capital foundation and the long-term backing of the Burman family, we are well positioned to expand our presence in the SME lending space. Karthik’s balanced approach to strategy, execution, and team leadership will be instrumental in unlocking this potential and driving the next chapter of growth for Religare Finvest Limited.”
Karthik Srinivasan spent the last decade at HDB Financial Services in building the Consumer Finance and Asset Finance portfolio spanning several products such as Consumer Loans, Two Wheeler and Auto Loans as well as Commercial Vehicle and Tractor Loans, and growing them at scale. He also played a key role in the Digital Transformation of the company over the last few years. He has also led global teams as an operating leader at Intelenet Global Services / SERCO and has worked with large private Indian as well as foreign banking and financial services. He has also set-up and nurtured entrepreneurial ventures in the education and technology space in the early parts of his career.
Srinivasan holds a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) in Accounting and Finance from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bangalore.
This appointment comes at a particularly significant juncture for Religare Finvest. Following the Reserve Bank of India's removal of the Corrective Action Plan (CAP) restrictions last year, which had previously placed a cap on the company's lending activities. RFL is now fully positioned to resume and scale its lending business.
Commenting on the appointment, Indranil Choudhury, Group Chief Human Resources Officer, Religare Enterprises Limited, said, “Karthik brings a combination of strategic clarity and execution excellence, honed over decades of leading complex, large-scale businesses. His ability to build resilient organisations, navigate change, and drive sustainable growth aligns strongly with Religare Finvest's ambitions. We are pleased to welcome him to the Group and look forward to the depth of leadership he brings to this next phase."
The removal of the fraud tag during the same period has further restored the company's institutional standing and creditor confidence. Religare Finvest enters this new chapter as a cash-rich organisation, with approximately Rs 400 crore at its disposal, capital that provides a strong and immediate foundation to reignite lending, deploy credit at scale, and build a resilient portfolio. Together, these developments mark a decisive turning point, and the appointment of Srinivasan signals RFL's intent to move swiftly and purposefully into this next phase of growth.
