The 469th board meeting of the Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Limited (SCBNL) appointed Venugopal Ranganathan as its new chairperson, effective March 21.
The oath swearing event was concluded by Acting Governor, Dr. Neelam Dhungana Timsina, on Sunday, March 23, the bank said in a statement.
Ranganathan has been with Standard Chartered since June 2007, serving in various senior roles, primarily within the risk management function for Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB). Currently, he is the Chief Risk Officer (CRO) for India and the South Asia Cluster, which includes Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, and is based in Mumbai, India.
With over 32 years of banking experience across multiple geographies and business areas, Ranganathan is a Chartered Accountant and has held numerous leadership roles.
“He has a proven track record of managing large portfolios through various economic cycles and driving business solutions,” read the statement. “Additionally, he serves as the Chairperson of the Board for SC Modelling and Analytics Company India and the Chairperson of the Board Risk Committee of Standard Chartered Vietnam.”
Commenting on his new role, Ranganathan highlighted Nepal's economic resilience, the recent BB- credit rating, strategic focus on renewable energy, and evolving financial sector as key factors contributing to a positive outlook for SCBNL. He expressed confidence in Nepal's potential for sustained growth, supported by prudent policies and robust economic drivers, and emphasized SCBNL's readiness to capitalize on emerging opportunities as Nepal integrates into global financial markets and leverages its natural resources.
