CXO Junction congratulates exceptional leaders for their remarkable contributions and new roles. Their expertise and dedication continue to drive innovation and transformation across industries.
Bharat Panchal has joined Discover as the Chief Risk & Regulatory Officer for APAC and Middle East, Global Payment Network.Â
Bharat will spearhead enterprise risk strategy, regulatory compliance, and governance across critical international markets. His mandate includes strengthening Discover’s regional risk and regulatory frameworks, driving operational resilience, and ensuring sustainable growth in line with evolving financial regulations. Based in Mumbai, he brings an unmatched track record of shaping large-scale risk and compliance programs for the financial services industry.Â
About his previous roles:
Before this appointment, Bharat was Chief Risk, Security, and Stakeholder Management Officer at Bima Sugam India Federation, where he drove enterprise risk, cybersecurity, and data privacy initiatives for a pioneering digital insurance platform. From 2021 to 2024, he served as Chief Regulatory Officer – India at Discover Financial Services, focusing on compliance and fraud risk management. Prior to that, he was Chief Risk Officer – India, Middle East & Africa at FIS (2019–2021), leading multi-regional risk and cybersecurity programs. A defining chapter of his career was at National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) (2011–2019), where he co-founded the risk function, built frameworks for UPI, RuPay, IMPS, and other products, and led responses to major cybersecurity incidents including the 2016 debit card breach and the 2018 Cosmos Bank attack. Earlier, Bharat held leadership roles at Kotak Mahindra Bank, Citi Technology Services, and Reliance Communications, after starting his career with Avaya Global connect and Contech Software Ltd. He continues to contribute to industry growth as a Governing Council Member at C3iHub, IIT Kanpur, Mentor for startups at IIT Kanpur’s Incubation Centre, and former Board Member of PCI Security Standards Council (2019–2020).Â
LinkedIn Link:Â https://www.linkedin.com/in/bharatpanchal/
Sandeep Agarwal has joined Cisco as the CTO – Security, India and SAARCÂ
In this pivotal role, Sandeep will define and execute Cisco’s security vision for the region, focusing on strengthening cyber defence, enabling secure digital transformation, and advancing enterprise risk management practices. His mission is to serve as a trusted advisor to businesses, governments, and the education sector — reinforcing Cisco’s position as the most trusted technology partner in the region. Based in Mumbai, he will lead initiatives that drive cybersecurity innovation and build organizational resilience in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.Â
About his previous roles:
Sandeep brings more than 20 years of leadership in cybersecurity, risk management, and compliance across global enterprises. Most recently, he was a Security Specialist at Google Cloud (2021–2025), where he guided enterprises on secure cloud adoption. Before that, he served as VP & Director of Security and Compliance at OakNorth Bank (London), leading global risk governance and product security initiatives. He has also held key roles at Amazon Web Services (AWS) as a Security Specialist Solutions Architect, CISO at Max Life Insurance, and Vice President & CISO at Moody’s Analytics Knowledge Services, driving enterprise-wide programs in data privacy, business continuity, and information security. Earlier in his career, Sandeep built a strong foundation in governance and assurance at Al Khalij Commercial Bank, PwC, Cognizant, and DRDO. Beyond corporate leadership, Sandeep is recognized as a trusted voice in cybersecurity leadership, with a proven track record of establishing enterprise-wide security frameworks and mentoring next-generation technology leaders. His appointment reflects Cisco’s commitment to strengthening cybersecurity innovation across India and SAARC, empowering businesses to embrace digital transformation with confidence.Â
Linkedln Link: Â https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-agarwal-9672956/
Vaibhav Sonavane has joined CSB Bank Limited as the Chief Information Security OfficerÂ
Vaibhav Sonavane, an accomplished cybersecurity leader with nearly two decades of experience in information security, cloud security, and risk management, has been appointed as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at CSB Bank Limited. In this role, he will be responsible for shaping the bank’s information security strategy, enhancing cyber resilience, and ensuring robust data protection and regulatory compliance. His leadership will focus on enabling secure digital transformation and strengthening the bank’s financial services security posture in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.Â
About his previous roles:
Prior to joining CSB Bank Limited, Vaibhav served as Senior Vice President & Head – Emerging Tech & Cloud Security at Axis Bank, where he established the Cloud Security Center of Excellence (CoE) and provided strategic direction for securing emerging technologies. He authored critical cybersecurity policies and standards, led initiatives such as threat hunting, red teaming, SaaS security reviews, and risk assessments, and successfully managed multiple RBI and regulatory audits. His work was instrumental in advancing Axis Bank’s cloud security strategy, compliance readiness, and risk management frameworks. Earlier, he was Principal Cloud Security Architect at Oracle, acting as a trusted advisor to CISOs across industries, helping organizations evaluate and implement advanced cloud security, identity governance, and data security solutions. At PwC India, he worked as a Principal Consultant, delivering CISO advisory services, security strategies, and enterprise-wide cybersecurity roadmaps to clients across diverse sectors. He also held leadership and specialist roles at Jardine Lloyd Thompson Asia, Wipro Technologies, and Rolta India Limited, where he designed and implemented large-scale identity and access management (IAM) solutions for global enterprises and government agencies. With deep expertise in enterprise security architecture, cloud security, data protection, identity management, and risk governance, Vaibhav has consistently demonstrated the ability to combine strategic vision with hands-on technical execution. His appointment as CISO at CSB Bank is expected to further strengthen the bank’s cybersecurity capabilities, drive innovation with security by design, and ensure business continuity in the digital era.Â
LinkedIn Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonavanevaibhav/Â
Sanjay Singh has joined Sber Bank India as the Head of IT Division Â
Sanjay Singh, a seasoned IT leader with extensive experience in IT infrastructure, application delivery, compliance, and audit, has joined Sber Bank India as the Head of IT Division. Based in New Delhi, he will be responsible for driving technology strategy, overseeing IT operations, and implementing innovative solutions that align with the bank’s growth and digital transformation goals.Â
About his previous roles:
Prior to joining Sber Bank India, Sanjay served as Head of IT Infrastructure & Operations at GEDU Global Education from May 2023 to September 2025. During this tenure, he led multiple greenfield projects, modernized IT infrastructure, ensured regulatory compliance, and drove application delivery excellence. Before GEDU, Sanjay was Global Head Infra & Information Security at UFLEX Group (July 2021 – April 2023), where he strengthened the organization’s cybersecurity posture, streamlined IT operations, and implemented critical data centre and business continuity strategies. Earlier, he held the position of Head of Department IT at AVI-OIL India Pvt. Ltd. for over a decade, successfully implementing ERP systems, establishing IT and EMS policies, and developing robust data centre and disaster recovery procedures. His foundational experience includes roles at Alcatel-Lucent (Circle Head UP East IT) and Reliance Energy Limited (Project Engineer), where he honed his skills in network management and infrastructure support. With over 15 years of experience, Sanjay combines strong technical acumen with strategic vision, making him a trusted advisor to senior management and a driver of IT transformation.Â
Linkedln Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjayrel777/Â
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