Bengaluru: slice, India’s first digital and AI-native bank, today announced the appointment of Samir Sawhney as Executive Director and Ramesh Kumar as Independent Director to its board. Both appointments have been approved by the slice board. The Reserve Bank of India has also approved Sawhney’s appointment as Executive Director.
The appointments bring seasoned banking, treasury and governance experience to slice as it enters its next phase of growth.
Samir Sawhney brings over three decades of banking experience in India and abroad, spanning treasury and investment management, retail operations, marketing and human resources. Until recently, he served as chief executive of RMBS Development Company, set up by the National Housing Bank to develop India’s residential mortgage-backed securities market. Before that, he spent over 34 years at State Bank of India. As Chief General Manager, Global Markets, he headed the bank’s treasury, managing a domestic portfolio of over Rs. 16.5 lakh crore and foreign assets of over $10 billion. He also served as Chairman of FEDAI, representing banks on foreign exchange matters in their engagement with the Reserve Bank of India.
Commenting on his appointment, Samir Sawhney, Executive Director, slice, said: “slice is building a bank for a new India, one where technology brings banking to more people at a fraction of the traditional cost. I have spent my career in banking and treasury across cycles and am excited to bring that experience to a young institution that is thinking about banking in a fresh way. I look forward to working with Rajan and the team as slice builds for the long term.”
Ramesh Kumar brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across banking, financial services, technology and digital innovation. He spent two decades at ICICI Bank as Head of Technology Management Group and Software Development, where he led technology strategy, infrastructure and mobile and digital banking platforms serving millions of customers. Earlier, he led core banking implementation at State Bank of India. His focus areas include technology governance, cybersecurity, operational resilience and digital transformation. Mr Kumar has previously worked closely with slice as an advisor during its integration and merger with North East Small Finance Bank.
Ramesh Kumar, Independent Director, slice, said: “I have watched slice closely, including during its merger with North East Small Finance Bank, and how it is using technology to reimagine banking. Strong technology governance and operational resilience are the foundation of trust in banking, and I look forward to contributing to slice’s journey as it builds a modern, safe and customer-first bank.”
Rajan Bajaj, MD & CEO, slice, said: “To have two board members of this experience, and rarer still to find it together, means a great deal to us.
We are a young bank earning its place among the best-run institutions in India. Having people on our board who have seen banking across cycles, and who believe in what technology can do for the customer, makes us stronger. We are very early in what is possible, and I am glad to have them with us for the journey ahead.”
The bank will continue to combine steady growth with responsible underwriting while investing in technology that keeps banking simple and intuitive.
