New Delhi, July 29 -- Standard Chartered has appointed banking technology veteran Kavita Kulkarni as Chief Technology & Operations Officer (CTOO) for India and South Asia, as the lender continues to strengthen its technology and operations leadership amid increasing investments in artificial intelligence, automation and digital banking.

Based in Mumbai, Kulkarni will be a member of Standard Chartered's India Country Management Team and will lead the execution of the bank's technology and operations strategy across India and the South Asia region. She will also support the lender's broader strategic priorities in one of its key growth markets.

Kulkarni joins Standard Chartered with more than 25 years of experience spanning banking, wealth management and enterprise technology across India, the UK and the US.

She most recently served as Managing Director and Chief Information Officer for Private Banking and Wealth Management at Barclays Bank, where she led global technology and operations teams. During her tenure, she drove automation initiatives and the adoption of artificial intelligence across technology delivery and operations.

Her appointment comes at a time when global banks are accelerating investments in AI-powered customer experiences, operational resilience and technology modernisation, while balancing regulatory requirements and cybersecurity demands.

"We are delighted to welcome Kavita to Standard Chartered. As we continue to invest in innovation and strengthen our capabilities, Kavita's deep expertise combined with her extensive global leadership experience will help us deliver simpler, faster and more resilient banking experiences for our clients, while supporting our long-term growth ambitions in the region," said PD Singh, chief executive officer, India and South Asia, Standard Chartered.

Kulkarni holds a bachelor's degree in computer science engineering from Karnataka University and an MBA in Finance from New York University's Stern School of Business.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from TechCircle.