SMFG India Credit Names Ravi Narayanan as CEO to Drive Growth and Expansion

SMFG India Credit has appointed Ravi Narayanan as its new CEO, effective August 28, 2025. Narayanan brings over three decades of experience in retail and branch distribution from his time at Axis Bank and HDFC Bank. He aims to drive sustainable growth, forge strategic partnerships, and strengthen the company's risk and compliance culture to deliver lasting value for stakeholders.

SMFG India Credit, a leading non-banking financial company (NBFC) in India, has appointed Ravi Narayanan as its new CEO, effective August 28, 2025. Narayanan brings over three decades of experience in retail and branch distribution, having held senior leadership roles at Axis Bank and HDFC Bank [1].

Rajeev Kannan, Chairman of SMFG India Credit, expressed confidence in Narayanan’s ability to steer the company into its next phase of expansion. "We are pleased to welcome Ravi Narayanan as CEO of SMFG India Credit. His deep expertise in retail and branch network management will be invaluable in driving growth and delivering value to our shareholders," Kannan stated [1].

Narayanan aims to drive sustainable growth, forge strategic partnerships, and strengthen the company's risk and compliance culture to deliver lasting value for stakeholders. "Building on our strong foundation, I look forward to collaborating with the dedicated leaders and employees at SMFG India to accelerate our retail business and deepen customer engagement through our branch network across the country," Narayanan said [1].

SMFG India Credit has been operating in India since 2007 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG). The company offers a wide range of lending products targeting underserved retail and small business borrowers, with a presence across 670+ towns and 70,000+ villages through 1,005 branches and 25,000+ employees [1].

Narayanan's appointment comes at a critical time for SMFG India Credit, as the company undergoes a change in business strategy to improve the quality of its assets and earnings. The lender's return on average managed assets declined from 1.4 percent in FY24 to 0.8 percent in FY25, and its gross non-performing assets reduced to 1.9 percent in FY25 from 2.5 percent a year ago [2].

The appointment of Narayanan, an outsider to Fullerton, marks an important milestone for SMFG India Credit, as it is the first major management overhaul since the Japanese lender acquired the business in November 2021 [2].

References:
[1] https://www.news9live.com/india/smfg-india-credit-appoints-ravi-narayanan-as-ceo-to-lead-its-next-phase-of-growth-and-innovation-2882639
[2] https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/banks/veteran-banker-ravi-narayanan-appointed-as-ceo-of-smfg-india-credit-13445206.html