DBS Bank has appointed Gaurav Rajput as Managing Director and Head of Group Marketing and Communications for India, strengthening its leadership team as the bank continues to deepen its brand presence and expand its franchise in one of its key growth markets.
In this role, He will be responsible for shaping and executing the bank’s integrated marketing and communications strategy across India. His mandate includes overseeing brand positioning, corporate communications, stakeholder engagement, and cross-channel marketing initiatives aligned with the bank’s digital-first and customer-focused growth strategy. He will also play a key role in enhancing brand visibility while supporting the bank’s expansion across consumer banking, SME banking and corporate banking segments.
Rajput brings more than two decades of experience spanning banking, financial services, and media. Prior to joining DBS, he served as Chief Marketing Officer at Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd., the publisher of some of India’s most influential media brands. During his tenure, he led brand strategy and marketing initiatives across flagship publications such as The Times of India, The Economic Times, Navbharat Times and Maharashtra Times, in addition to managing regional and city-focused media properties.
Earlier, Rajput spent eight years with Standard Chartered, where he held several senior leadership roles across global and regional mandates. These included Managing Director and Global Head of Marketing for the Corporate and Investment Bank, Managing Director and Head of Consumer Bank Marketing for Asia, and Managing Director and Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing for India and South Asia. In these roles, he led integrated brand, digital marketing, corporate affairs, and CSR strategies across multiple international markets.
Before his tenure at Standard Chartered, Rajput served as Chief Marketing Officer at IDFC Bank. He also held senior marketing and digital leadership roles at Cigna TTK Health Insurance and Aviva, where he focused on building digital-led customer engagement and brand transformation initiatives.
Earlier in his career, Rajput worked with Citibank India as Vice President for Marketing and Customer Segments. His professional journey also includes foundational roles in media and advertising with NDTV, Rediffusion Y&R, and FCB Ulka, where he gained early experience in brand strategy and integrated marketing communications.
With a career spanning banking, insurance, media, and advertising, Rajput brings deep expertise in brand transformation, digital marketing, corporate affairs, and stakeholder engagement. His appointment underscores DBS Bank’s continued focus on strengthening its brand architecture and communications strategy as it scales its presence in the Indian market.
