Shri Ashok Chandra MD & CEO
Shri Ashok Chandra assumed charge as Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Punjab National Bank on 16th January 2025. He has a vast and varied experience in the Banking industry, spanning more than 33 years.
Shri Chandra was Executive Director of Canara Bank from 21st November 2022 to 15th January 2025.
In his capacity as Executive Director in Canara Bank, he has overseen various Verticals in Canara Bank including Digital Banking and Information Technology, Strategy and Planning, Marketing and Public Relations, Financial Inclusion, MSME, Retail Asset, Agriculture and Priority Sector, Gold Loan, Liability Management, General Administration etc.
He was also a Director in the Board of Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company Limited, PSB Alliance Ltd. and Canara Venture Capital Fund Ltd.
He is a member of IBA standing committee for HR.
Before this, he served as Chief General Manager in Union Bank of India. As CGM he was incharge of Recovery, Legal and Stressed Asset Management Vertical of the Bank. He was instrumental in putting in place planned measures to drastically reduce the Stressed Assets of the Bank. He was also a member of “Standing Committee on Stressed Assets” formed by IBA.
He also served as Director in the Board of The Union Trustee Company Private Limited and as a Director in The National Asset Reconstruction Company Limited (NARCL).
Shri Chandra started his banking career with erstwhile Corporation Bank on 10th September 1991 as a Probationary Officer and worked as Branch Head in various Geographies and handled multiple responsibilities as heading Zones / Regions of the Bank across the country. He also had a stint in Overseas Operations when he was heading the Representative Office of the Bank at Dubai, UAE. In his career, he has achieved laurels and accolades such as Star Performer, Best Branch Award, Healthy Branch Award, Leadership Award, Champion of champions Award etc.
Shri Chandra holds a Master’s Degree in Economics and is also a Certified Associate of Indian Institute of Bankers. He was chosen to be a part of the leadership programme designed by the Banks Board Bureau and conducted by IIM Bangalore during 2019-2020.