Standard Chartered Bank Nepal (SCBN), a prominent player in the country's banking sector since 1987, has appointed Gorakh Rana as its first Nepali CEO, marking a historic shift in the bank's leadership. Since its establishment, the bank had exclusively appointed foreign CEOs. Rana’s appointment breaks this long-standing tradition, making it a significant milestone for both the institution and Nepal's banking sector.
While prominent Nepali bankers such as Sashin Joshi, Anil Shah, Parshuram Kunwar Chhetri, Anupama Khunjeli, Ajay Shrestha, Sunil KC, Upendra Poudyal, Sudesh Khaling and Laxman Risal have held CEO roles at other banks after their tenure at Standard Chartered, the bank itself had not previously entrusted a senior Nepali employee with the top position. Rana's elevation to CEO underscores a new chapter in its operations.
Rana was appointed Deputy CEO of the bank on January 1, 2022. He began his journey with SCBN in 1994 in the Retail and Private Banking department before transitioning to Corporate and Institutional Banking in 1996. Over the years, he has held various key roles, including Relationship Manager, Senior Credit Manager, Head of Client Coverage, and, most recently, Head of Global Banking & Commercial Banking.
Rana takes the reins following the completion of Anirvan Ghosh Dastidar’s term as CEO. According to sources at the bank, Rana will officially assume his role in January 2025. Siddhant Raj Pandey, a director of the bank, announced the news via Facebook on Monday evening, sharing a photo with Dastidar and Rana. "Congratulations to Gorakh Rana on being appointed as the first Nepali CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Nepal and best wishes to Anirvan for his new assignment in Dubai," Pandey wrote.
The SCBN is an integral part of the Standard Chartered Group, which holds a 70.21% ownership stake, while the remaining 29.79% of shares are owned by the Nepali public.
As Nepal's only international bank, Standard Chartered Bank Nepal holds the distinction of being the only bank in the country to receive an ICRANP [IR Triple A] rating from ICRA Nepal, reflecting its robust financial standing.
