December 17, 2025 | Mumbai, India: Kotak Mahindra Prime Limited, a leading non-banking financial company (NBFC) and part of the Kotak Mahindra Group, has announced the appointment of Sandeep Rath as its new Head of Human Resources (HR). In his new role, Rath will spearhead the company’s people strategy, leadership development, and workforce capability initiatives, reinforcing Kotak Mahindra Prime’s commitment to building a future-ready organisation.
The appointment is a significant step as the company continues to expand its footprint across India’s evolving financial services landscape. Rath will focus on strengthening talent pipelines, enhancing employee engagement, and driving organisational effectiveness to support the NBFC’s growth ambitions.
Driving HR Transformation and Leadership Development
As Head of Human Resources, Sandeep Rath will oversee the full spectrum of HR strategy at Kotak Mahindra Prime. His mandate includes aligning people policies with business goals, creating a culture of high performance, and developing robust leadership programs aimed at preparing the next generation of leaders within the organisation.
Rath’s leadership comes at a time when financial services companies are reimagining their HR functions amid rapid technological change, competitive talent markets, and shifting employee expectations. His focus will be on embedding agility, innovation, and continuous learning into the company’s workforce strategy — ensuring Kotak Mahindra Prime remains a preferred employer within the NBFC ecosystem.
A Career Spanning Two Decades in Financial Services HR
Bringing nearly two decades of human resources experience, Sandeep Rath has built a distinguished career in people leadership roles across India’s top financial institutions.
Before his current appointment, Rath held senior HR roles within the Kotak Mahindra Group, where he collaborated closely with business leaders on talent management, organisation design, and culture transformation. His expertise in designing and executing strategic people initiatives has been instrumental in fostering leadership depth and operational excellence across diverse business verticals.
Prior to joining Kotak Mahindra Group, Rath held key HR positions at ICICI Bank, L&T Financial Services, and the Aditya Birla Group — experiences that have shaped his understanding of large, multi-business environments and complex workforce dynamics.
An alumnus of the Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurugram, Rath is recognised for his ability to align HR frameworks with business priorities and guide leadership teams through phases of transformation and growth.
A Strategic Appointment in a Competitive Talent Market
Industry experts see Rath’s appointment as a reflection of the growing recognition of strategic HR leadership in India’s financial services sector. With the NBFC industry witnessing intense competition for skilled talent, companies like Kotak Mahindra Prime are increasingly investing in advanced human resource management systems (HRMS), leadership development programs, and employee experience frameworks to stay ahead.
Rath’s focus on modernising HR processes, leveraging data-driven decision-making, and integrating HR tech solutions is expected to accelerate Kotak Mahindra Prime’s digital and cultural transformation journey.
“The appointment signals Kotak Mahindra Prime’s intent to strengthen its people-first approach while maintaining business agility in a rapidly evolving environment,” said an HR industry observer. “Building a strong organisational culture and leadership pipeline has become as crucial as financial performance in today’s NBFC ecosystem.”
The Road Ahead for Kotak Mahindra Prime
As Kotak Mahindra Prime continues to scale its lending and financial services operations, the role of HR will be central in driving employee engagement, improving retention, and fostering innovation. Under Rath’s leadership, the company is expected to intensify its focus on leadership capability building, diversity and inclusion, and employee well-being — all critical pillars of sustainable business growth.
With his extensive experience and people-centric philosophy, Rath is poised to play a key role in shaping the company’s next chapter of growth, ensuring that Kotak Mahindra Prime continues to thrive as an employer of choice in India’s financial landscape.
