Ashok Chandra has taken over as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Punjab National Bank (PNB) for a three-year term. The announcement was officially made by PNB through a stock exchange communication on Thursday.
The Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) had recommended Chandra for the top position on October 10, 2024.
Before joining PNB, Chandra served as the Executive Director of Canara Bank from November 21, 2022, to January 15, 2025. During his tenure, he managed several critical areas, including digital banking and IT, strategy and planning, marketing, financial inclusion, MSME operations, retail lending, agriculture, priority sector lending, gold loans, liability management, and general administration.
In addition to his executive role at Canara Bank, Chandra was a director on the boards of Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company Limited, PSB Alliance Ltd, and Canara Venture Capital Fund Ltd. He was also an active member of the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) Standing Committee on HR.
Before his tenure at Canara Bank, Chandra held the position of Chief General Manager at Union Bank of India. He was a director on the boards of The Union Trustee Company Private Limited and The National Asset Reconstruction Company Limited (NARCL).
With a career spanning over 33 years, Chandra has garnered extensive experience across various domains in the banking industry. He holds a Master’s Degree in Economics and is a Certified Associate of the Indian Institute of Bankers. Further enhancing his credentials, he participated in a leadership program conducted by IIM Bangalore in collaboration with the Banks Board Bureau during 2019–2020.
His appointment at PNB is expected to leverage his deep knowledge and leadership skills to further strengthen the bank’s position in the financial sector.
