Former SBI Chairperson to head Salesforce India

US-based global cloud service major Salesforce has roped in former State Bank of India (SBI) chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya, hailed as one of best-known bankers in the country, to head its India operations.

Bhattacharya will join Salesforce India as chairperson and CEO on April 20, confirmed the company in a release. She will report to Ulrik Nehammer, general manager APAC.

“Arundhati is an incredible business leader, and we are delighted to welcome her to Salesforce as chairperson and CEO India,” said Gavin Patterson, president & CEO of Salesforce International in a statement.

Bhattacharya, who has more than 40 years of experience in India’s financial sector, will be responsible for leading the next phase of growth, customer relations and expansion for Salesforce in India.

She previously served India largest lender bank SBI as Chairman for 40 years. After retiring from SBI in 2017, Bhattacharya joined SWIFT India in April 2019 and sat on boards of Reliance, Parimal Group and Wipro.

Grew up in Bokaro Steel City, Bhattacharya was ranked 5th in “The Most Powerful Women in Finance” category by Forbes magazine. Her decision to join a software company is exciting as we hardly see hardcore finance wizards take up roles in technology companies.

Salesforce provides a range of cloud storage and digital services to many local companies including redBus, CEAT and Franklin Templeton. Salesforce counts India as one of its substantial growth markets and has invested significantly in the country. It also set up an excellence centre in Hyderabad in 2016.