Axis Bank, India’s third-largest private sector bank by market capitalization, has appointed Neeraj Gambhir as Executive Director for a period of three years, effective July 15, 2025. The announcement follows the resignation of Arjun Chowdhry, who held the position until recently. The appointment has been approved by the Board of Directors and is subject to regulatory clearances from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Leadership Transition: Background
Neeraj Gambhir, who currently serves as Group Executive & Head – Treasury, Markets and Wholesale Banking Products, has been instrumental in leading Axis Bank’s treasury and balance sheet strategy over recent years. With over 27 years of experience in financial markets across both global and domestic institutions, Gambhir is widely regarded as a market-savvy executive with a deep understanding of risk, fixed income, and capital markets.
The leadership change comes at a critical juncture as the bank looks to consolidate gains in wholesale banking, manage cost of funds, and further build on its digital and capital market initiatives.
Professional Background of Neeraj Gambhir
Prior to joining Axis Bank, Gambhir held senior leadership roles at Nomura India and Deutsche Bank, where he was deeply involved in fixed income trading, debt syndication, and capital raising. He joined Axis Bank in 2019 and has since played a key role in strengthening its treasury operations and enhancing ALM (Asset Liability Management) functions.
Gambhir is an alumnus of IIT Delhi and has earned recognition for steering innovation in structured finance and fixed income strategy.
Strategic Implications
With his elevation, Axis Bank is expected to:
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Deepen its capital markets franchise
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Strengthen risk-based pricing and treasury strategy
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Bolster institutional and wholesale banking leadership
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Drive product innovation across structured lending, syndication, and fixed income
This also sends a strong signal of internal succession planning at Axis Bank, emphasizing continuity and stability amid a highly competitive private banking landscape.
Board’s Confidence
In its official filing to the stock exchange, Axis Bank’s board noted that Gambhir’s leadership “will be critical in the bank’s next phase of growth, especially in managing dynamic interest rate cycles and expanding the institutional client base.”
Conclusion
As the private banking sector evolves under regulatory scrutiny and macroeconomic shifts, leadership stability and domain expertise will be vital for sustaining momentum. Neeraj Gambhir’s elevation reflects Axis Bank’s confidence in homegrown leadership and its strategic focus on delivering value through treasury-led growth and digital enablement.
