Senior technology and cybersecurity leader Kiran Belsekar has joined Mahindra Manulife Insurance Limited (MMIL), marking the beginning of a new professional chapter after completing an association of more than 80 months with Bandhan Life.
Belsekar announced the development through a LinkedIn post, describing Mahindra Manulife Insurance Limited as an organisation being built as a simple, customer-first, AI-native and digitally led life insurer with the broader vision of “Insurance for All.”
His background spans technology strategy, information security, data governance, artificial intelligence, product management and digital transformation, primarily within the insurance and financial services sectors.
Speaking about the opportunity, Belsekar highlighted the combination of MMIL’s greenfield operating environment, the scale of the Mahindra ecosystem and Manulife’s global insurance expertise. He said these factors make the opportunity both exciting and humbling.
In his announcement, Belsekar acknowledged Suresh Agarwal for the trust placed in him and Naren Baliga for the technology leadership, partnership and shared vision for what the team can build. He also thanked Riya Dalvi for supporting his transition into the organisation, Mohit Kapoor for his perspective on technology-led transformation, and Mark Van den Broek for bringing belief and a global perspective to the journey.
The appointment follows Belsekar’s extensive tenure at Bandhan Life, formerly known as Aegon Life Insurance. He joined the insurer in December 2019 as Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer and subsequently assumed wider leadership responsibilities covering IT governance, data protection, technology, data and cybersecurity.
Reflecting on his time at Bandhan Life, Belsekar said the journey offered opportunities for growth across technology, cybersecurity, data privacy, data and AI, product management and business generation. He credited the organisation’s leadership team, colleagues, partners, vendors and industry peers for supporting him throughout the journey.
He also expressed appreciation for Satishwar Balakrishnan, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bandhan Life, for his trust and for encouraging him to extend his professional boundaries. Describing his colleagues as his “Gems team,” Belsekar said working with them played an important role in defining his career.
Before joining Bandhan Life, Belsekar served as Senior Vice President and Head of Information Technology and Cybersecurity at ENAM. His earlier assignments included leadership positions at PNB MetLife India Insurance, Sony Entertainment Television, IndiaFirst Life Insurance and Reliance Life Insurance. He has also worked with Future Group, Siemens Information Systems and Micro Clinic during his career.
With more than two decades of professional experience, Belsekar has developed expertise across cybersecurity, IT governance, data protection, digital transformation, infrastructure management, business continuity and technology strategy. He is also actively associated with industry communities, including CIO Klub, CIOs of India and CyberGurukul.
His transition to MMIL comes as insurers increasingly focus on building digitally native operating models supported by AI, trusted data, strong governance and secure customer experiences. Belsekar’s cross-functional background across technology, security, privacy and data is expected to support MMIL’s ambition to build a customer-centric and AI-led life insurance organisation.
