Kotak Mahindra Bank has announced a change in its senior technology leadership, with Mr. Bhavnish Lathia stepping down from his role as Chief Technology Officer. The bank informed the exchanges under Regulation 30 of the SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2015 that his resignation was accepted on February 9, 2026, which marked his final day in office.
In his communication to the management, Mr. Lathia stated that the bank’s technology architecture is currently at its strongest position to date, adding that the leadership team is well prepared to assume greater responsibilities. He cited personal reasons, including his relocation to the United States, for his decision to step down.
To ensure continuity and strategic momentum, the Board of Directors approved the appointment of Mr. Nilesh Chaudhari as Chief Technology Officer with effect from February 10, 2026.
Mr. Chaudhari brings nearly three decades of experience in global banking technology. Over a 29-year career, he has held senior roles at JPMorgan, Barclays, Citigroup and IDFC First Bank, leading large scale transformation initiatives across more than 20 countries. His domain expertise spans payments, core banking, treasury systems, digital platforms, data architecture and enterprise technology modernisation.
Within Kotak Mahindra Bank, he has already been closely associated with advancing key technology programs across Wholesale Banking, Commercial Banking, Treasury, GIFT City operations and assurance platforms. His elevation to the CTO role signals the bank’s continued focus on strengthening its digital backbone and scaling technology led growth across business verticals.
From a RiskAwareness perspective leadership transition in critical technology roles within banks are closely linked to operational resilience, cyber risk management and regulatory compliance continuity. Sustained governance oversight and structured transition planning remain essential to mitigate technology concentration risk and systemic vulnerabilities.
