Ashok Chandra has been appointed as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Punjab National Bank (PNB) for a tenure of three years. PNB announced the appointment through a communication to the stock exchange on Thursday.
The Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) had recommended Chandra for the MD & CEO role on October 10, 2024.
Prior to this, Chandra served as the Executive Director of Canara Bank, where he held the position from November 21, 2022, to January 15, 2025. During his tenure at Canara Bank, he oversaw multiple verticals, including digital banking and information technology, strategy and planning, marketing and public relations, financial inclusion, MSME, retail assets, agriculture, priority sectors, gold loans, liability management, and general administration.
Chandra also served as a director on the boards of Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company Limited, PSB Alliance Ltd, and Canara Venture Capital Fund Ltd. He was a member of the IBA Standing Committee for HR.
Before his role at Canara Bank, Chandra was the Chief General Manager at Union Bank of India. He served as a director on the board of The Union Trustee Company Private Limited and The National Asset Reconstruction Company Limited (NARCL).
With over 33 years of diverse experience in the banking sector, Chandra brings a wealth of expertise to his new role. He holds a Master’s Degree in Economics and is a Certified Associate of the Indian Institute of Bankers. Additionally, he participated in a leadership programme organized by the Banks Board Bureau and conducted by IIM Bangalore during 2019–2020.
