Pravir Vohra: A Career in Banking and Technology

Pravir Vohra is a prominent figure in the Indian banking and finance sector, boasting a career spanning nearly four decades. His journey began with the State Bank of India, where he spent over two decades gaining experience in various business and technology roles, both in India and abroad. This foundation led him to leadership positions in prominent institutions, including Times Bank Ltd. and ICICI Bank.

• He was Vice President at Times Bank, responsible for spearheading technology-enabled services for corporate clients.
• At ICICI Bank, he held several key leadership positions, including heading the Retail Technology Group and Technology Management Group.
• From 2005 to 2012, he served as the President and Group CTO of ICICI Bank, overseeing IT strategy, infrastructure, and innovation.

Early Career and Background

Mr. Vohra holds a postgraduate degree in Economics from St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi and is a Certified Associate of the Indian Institute of Bankers. His early career started with the State Bank of India, a leading public sector bank in India. He held diverse roles within the bank, showcasing his expertise in finance and technology.

• He gained experience in both domestic and international operations, demonstrating his global reach.
• His leadership in technology functions for State Bank branches in the US and Canada demonstrates his expertise in managing international banking operations.
• He also headed the Bank's Forex Division in New Delhi, showcasing his deep understanding of financial markets and international currency exchange.

Leadership Roles in Private Banking

Mr. Vohra's experience in the public sector banking environment paved the way for leadership positions in private sector banks, where he continued to make significant contributions.

• He was Vice President at Times Bank Ltd., where he played a pivotal role in implementing innovative technology-driven services for corporate clients.
• His expertise in cash management, supply chain management, and merchant banking demonstrates his understanding of corporate finance and investment banking.
• At ICICI Bank, he held several key leadership positions, demonstrating his expertise in managing large-scale banking operations.
• He headed the Retail Technology Group, focusing on leveraging technology to enhance retail banking services, demonstrating his understanding of customer needs and market trends.
• As head of the Technology Management Group, he was responsible for deploying technology across ICICI Bank's global operations, ensuring scalability and future-readiness.
• His ability to oversee the deployment of technology across diverse platforms, including domestic and international operations, highlights his ability to manage complex technology projects.

Impact as Group CTO of ICICI Bank

From 2005 to 2012, Mr. Vohra served as the President and Group CTO of ICICI Bank, a critical period for the bank's growth and expansion.

• He prioritized aligning technology with overall business goals, ensuring that technology investments contributed directly to achieving strategic objectives.
• His focus on optimizing people, processes, and information helped to ensure the bank's agility and competitiveness in a rapidly evolving market.
• He spearheaded the bank's technology investments, repositioning strategies across both execution and product innovation.
• His efforts to leverage both new and existing technologies focused on enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and creating differentiated products that helped the bank maintain its market leadership.
• He oversaw IT strategy and innovation, enterprise architecture, process automation, and group IT infrastructure, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of all facets of technology management.
• His responsibility for leveraging technology synergies across ICICI Bank and its group companies showcases his ability to manage diverse IT ecosystems.
• He also played a key role in the expansion of physical infrastructure, overseeing the rollout of new branches, ATMs, data centers, and large office facilities.

Post-ICICI Bank Career

Following his retirement from ICICI Bank in 2012, Mr. Vohra continued to contribute to the banking and finance sectors.

• He mentored start-ups in the payments space, sharing his extensive experience and expertise in this rapidly growing sector.
• He completed a two-year assignment with the New Development Bank, a multilateral development bank headquartered in Shanghai.
• He actively serves on the Technology Advisory Committees of organizations such as the Bombay Stock Exchange, NCDEX, Indian Clearing Corporation, and Power Exchange India, sharing his insights and expertise.
• He serves as an independent director on the boards of prominent companies like Thomas Cook India Ltd., IDFC Bank, NCML Ltd., and Quess Corporation.

Contributions to the Indian Banking Industry

Mr. Vohra's contributions extend beyond his leadership roles in specific institutions. He has been actively involved in shaping the Indian banking industry through his participation in various committees.

• He served on numerous technology and functional committees established by organizations such as the Central Board of Direct Taxes, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the Reserve Bank of India, the Indian Banking Association, and NPCI.
• He has also held nominee director positions on the boards of Loyalty Solutions & Research Pvt. Ltd., ICICI Securities Ltd., Firstsource Solutions Ltd., and independent director positions on MCX India Ltd. and Goldman Sachs AMC (India) Ltd.
• His recognition with awards like The Asian Banker Achievement Award for Technology & Operations in 2006, Symantec Asia South Visionary 2008, and his inclusion in Information Week's Global CIO 50 List for 2009 highlight his contributions to the field of banking and technology.

Passion for Innovation and Impact

Mr. Vohra is deeply passionate about leveraging the power of technology to solve real-life business issues, improve operating efficiency, and design innovative products and processes.

• He believes in harnessing the potential of emerging technologies to create positive change and impact the lives of the Indian people.
• His commitment to using technology for societal benefit underscores his commitment to responsible innovation.