Egon Zehnder Assists Bandhan Bank with CEO Search

October 17, 2024 – Financial services organizations, generally, are facing a new competitive landscape, regulatory challenges and a constant struggle to manage cost and efficiency. This requires strategic leaders, both men and women, with a multidimensional skill-set and competencies that often go above and beyond any typical job description. Like all financial institutions, banks continue to turn to executive recruitment firms to find new leaders. The latest: Leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder recently assisted in the recruitment of Ratan Kes as managing director and CEO of Bandhan Bank. Chandra Shekhar Ghosh retired in July.
“It has been a privilege to lead Bandhan Bank during my tenure, and I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together,” said Mr. Ghosh. “As I pass the baton to new top management under the leadership of Ratan Kesh, I am confident in their ability to steer our bank forward with dedication and integrity. I extend my gratitude to our loyal customers, dedicated employees, and supportive stakeholders for their trust and collaboration. Together, we have laid a strong foundation, and I look forward to witnessing the continued success of Bandhan Bank.”
Mr. Kesh has been on the board of the bank since March 2023. With nearly three decades of stellar experience, he has a track record of leading complex operations including transformation, automation, customer experience, quality improvement & other related functions. Mr. Kesh is a hands-on leader who has helped scale and address operational challenges with ease consistently at reputed banking organizations in India namely ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Yes Bank, and Axis Bank. He was recognized as one of the 50 most talented Quality Professionals in India by the World Quality Congress. Mr. Kesh was also recognized as one of India’s top 25 Emerging Tech Leaders by BIOCON Network in collaboration with MeitY.
During his tenures at ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Yes Bank, and Axis Bank, he led organizational transformations focusing on technology, digitalization, governance, quality, and customer satisfaction. He was also among the pioneers in launching Service Quality Framework, Service CRM, and AI COE in major banks. Mr. Kesh holds B.E. (MTech), MBA, and advanced quality engineer (QCI, USA) certifications. Additionally, he has completed an advanced leadership course from IIM-A and Harvard.
“As we bid farewell to Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, I am honored to step into the role,” said Mr. Kesh. “I look forward to continuing our commitment to excellence in banking services, fostering growth, and maintaining the trust of our valued customers and stakeholders. Together with our dedicated team and strong top management, we will uphold the strong legacy of Bandhan Bank and drive our vision forward into the future.”
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Bandhan Bank is a banking and financial services company. It is present in 35 out of 36 states and union territories of India, with 6,250 banking outlets and 3.26 crore customers. Having received the universal banking license from the Reserve Bank of India, Bandhan Bank started operations on August 23, 2015, with 501 branches, 50 ATMs and 2,022 banking units.
Top 5 Search Firm
Egon Zehnder currently ranks as a Top 5 global executive search firm, according to Hunt Scanlon Media. With more than 500 consultants in 68 offices and 40 countries around the globe, Egon Zehnder works with public and private corporations, family-owned enterprises, and non-profit and government agencies to provide board advisory services, CEO and leadership succession planning, executive search and assessment, and leadership development solutions. Since 1964, the firm has been at the forefront of defining top leadership in the face of changing economic conditions as well as major transitions in the executive search field.
Egon Zehnder’s global wholesale and investment banking practice works closely with international and regional banks and advisory firms to address executive hiring needs and support strategic assessment and development of individual leaders and teams. It has more than 45 consultants worldwide who are serving clients in this sector, advising boards, CEOs and executives on industry-specific leadership strategies, and are career advisors to many top professionals in the industry.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media