NEW DELHI – Religare Finvest Limited (RFL), a prominent non-banking financial company (NBFC) specializing in small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) financing, has announced the appointment of Karthik Srinivasan as its new Chief Executive Officer. The strategic leadership change, effective May 7, 2026, comes as the company prepares for a significant growth phase following the removal of regulatory restrictions by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Srinivasan brings over three decades of extensive experience across banking, financial services, and strategic operations. His appointment is expected to be instrumental in guiding Religare Finvest's strategy to evolve into a scaled, multi-line NBFC. This plan includes expanding its "phygital" distribution network, ensuring responsible credit delivery, and integrating advanced technology and AI tools across all operational facets.
Accelerating Growth After Regulatory Relief
The appointment marks a pivotal moment for Religare Finvest, which recently saw the RBI lift its Corrective Action Plan (CAP) restrictions on the company's lending operations. This regulatory clearance has cleared the path for RFL to accelerate its lending business and reinforce its market position within the competitive SME financing segment.
Arjun Lamba, Executive Director of Religare Enterprises Limited, expressed confidence in Srinivasan's leadership, emphasizing his deep domain expertise. Lamba highlighted that Religare's robust capital position and the backing from the Burman family provide a strong foundation for the expansion of its SME lending business.
Srinivasan's Vision and Background
Before joining Religare Finvest, Srinivasan spent nearly a decade at HDB Financial Services, where he played a key role in developing extensive consumer finance and asset finance portfolios. His experience spans various product lines, including consumer loans, two-wheeler finance, auto loans, commercial vehicle loans, and tractor loans. He was also a significant contributor to HDB Financial Services' digital transformation initiatives.
Speaking on his new role, Srinivasan stated his immediate focus would be on strengthening core business fundamentals, investing in human capital and capabilities, and fostering a resilient institutional framework capable of sustaining long-term growth. Religare Finvest currently holds approximately ₹400 crore available to support its lending growth and portfolio expansion. The company noted that the removal of a previous "fraud tag" and other regulatory constraints has successfully restored institutional confidence and enhanced its standing with creditors.
Academically, Srinivasan holds a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Delhi and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) in Accounting and Finance from IIM Bangalore.