Standard Chartered names Kavita Kulkami CTO for India and South Asia

Standard Chartered has appointed Kavita Kulkami as chief technology and operations officer for India and South Asia, Finextra reported, adding a former Barclays technology executive to its regional management ranks. The Standard Chartered CTO India appointment gives Kulkami responsibility for the bank’s technology and operations across the region from Mumbai.

Finextra said Kulkami will also join the India country management team. Her mandate covers the leadership of Standard Chartered’s technology and operations functions in India and South Asia.

Who is Kavita Kulkami at Standard Chartered?

Kulkami is the newly appointed chief technology and operations officer for Standard Chartered in India and South Asia, according to Finextra. In the role described by the publication, she will oversee the regional technology and operations agenda rather than a single product or business line.

Before joining Standard Chartered, Kulkami worked at Barclays as managing director and chief information officer for private banking and wealth management, Finextra reported. In that Barclays role, she led automation initiatives and increased the adoption of artificial intelligence.

A technology and operations post at a bank links two areas that are closely connected: the systems that support banking activity and the processes used to deliver services. Finextra’s report places Kulkami’s remit across both functions for India and South Asia.

What does the appointment mean for Standard Chartered in India?

The appointment places an executive with private banking, wealth management technology, automation and AI experience into Standard Chartered’s regional leadership structure. Finextra did not report details on the timing of the appointment, Kulkami’s reporting line or any specific technology programmes she will lead.

The move comes as Standard Chartered continues to feature in technology and leadership coverage. Finextra has separately reported on the bank giving institutional clients access to USDC minting and redemption, signing an AI deal with Alibaba and naming a global head of data analytics and AI.

Finextra has also reported other leadership changes at the bank, including the appointment of a former Kinexys co-head as global payments chief. Its related coverage has included a report that Standard Chartered would cut 7,800 jobs as AI takes over some back-office activity.

Standard Chartered is a UK bank with operations across multiple regions. For India and South Asia, Finextra’s report identifies Mumbai as Kulkami’s base and the India country management team as part of her new governance responsibilities.

This story draws on original reporting from Finextra Research.