Suryoday Small Finance Bank has appointed Alok Pathak as its Chief Risk Officer (CRO) for a three-year term, effective October 1, 2026. The appointment will run until September 30, 2029.
The appointment was approved by the bank’s Board of Directors on October 1, 2026, following recommendations from the Nomination and Remuneration Committee and the Risk Management Committee. The move comes as Suryoday Small Finance Bank strengthens its risk and governance leadership.
Pathak brings more than 26 years of experience across public sector banks, private sector banks, small finance banks and financial services. He also has more than eight years of experience specifically in Chief Risk Officer roles.
Before joining Suryoday Small Finance Bank, Pathak held risk leadership positions across institutions including Utkarsh Small Finance Bank, Axis Bank, SBM Bank (India) and Oriental Bank of Commerce.
Yogesh Dixit Redesignated as Head – Governance Projects
Alongside Pathak’s appointment, Suryoday Small Finance Bank has redesignated Yogesh Dixit as Head – Governance Projects, effective October 1, 2026.
Dixit has been associated with Suryoday Small Finance Bank since 2015 and served as its Chief Risk Officer since 2017. He brings more than 36 years of experience across financial institutions, with expertise spanning development finance and regulatory functions.
His move to the governance role allows the bank to retain his institutional experience while bringing new leadership to its risk management function. Dixit had served as CRO for nine years before the latest transition.
Board Approval and Regulatory Compliance
The leadership changes were approved by the Board of Directors through circulation on October 1, 2026.
The appointment of Pathak as CRO has been made in accordance with RBI Master Circular No. RBI/DOR/2025-26/180 dated November 28, 2025. The bank also followed Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.
Suryoday Small Finance Bank submitted the disclosure to the National Stock Exchange of India Limited and BSE Limited. The filing was signed by Geeta Krishnan, Interim Company Secretary and Compliance Officer.
Strengthening Risk and Governance
The leadership transition comes at a time when small finance banks are managing increasingly diverse portfolios. Alongside granular microfinance and Joint Liability Group (JLG) portfolios, SFBs are expanding their presence in secured retail segments such as affordable housing, commercial vehicle finance and MSME lending.
Pathak’s experience across small finance banks and private sector banking brings an external risk management perspective to Suryoday’s risk function. At the same time, Dixit’s long association with the bank and experience across development finance and regulatory functions provides continuity in governance.
Together, the changes are aimed at strengthening the bank’s risk and governance framework as Suryoday continues to expand its business.
Leadership Transition Under MD & CEO Baskar Babu Ramachandran
The transition takes place under Suryoday Small Finance Bank’s MD and CEO Baskar Babu Ramachandran.
Pathak’s appointment brings more than 26 years of multi-segment banking and financial services experience to the bank, including over eight years in CRO roles. His previous mandates across Utkarsh Small Finance Bank, Axis Bank, SBM Bank (India) and Oriental Bank of Commerce add experience across different banking models.
Meanwhile, Dixit’s redesignation ensures that the bank continues to retain his more than 36 years of institutional experience. Having been with Suryoday since 2015 and having led the risk function since 2017, he now moves into a dedicated governance role.
The changes give Suryoday Small Finance Bank a combination of new leadership for its risk function and continuity in its governance framework.
-By Shivani Solanki
