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Poonawalla Fincorp appoints Salil Hajarnis as CTO after the resignation of Dhiraj Saxena amid allegations of harrasment.
NEW DELHI: Poonawalla Fincorp, a leading non-banking finance company (NBFC) under the Cyrus Poonawalla Group, has appointed Salil Hajarnis as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). The company’s board of directors approved the appointment on September 11, 2024, with Hajarnis officially assuming his role on December 10, 2024.
Hajarnis’ appointment follows the resignation of the company’s previous CTO, Dhiraj Saxena, who stepped down on December 3, 2024, citing harassment by the company’s Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), Harsh Kumar.
In his resignation letter dated September 6, Saxena alleged that the CHRO’s “harassment and unnecessary interventions” had hindered his ability to manage IT functions effectively. “I have tried my best to collaborate, but it seems it is not as per the HR policy,” Saxena wrote, further claiming that the issues had disrupted IT operations and caused unrest within his team.
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Saxena’s resignation adds to a period of significant leadership transitions at Poonawalla Fincorp. Arvind Kapil, previously associated with HDFC Bank, took over as Managing Director and CEO in June 2024, while Harsh Kumar joined as CHRO in July 2024. These changes have reportedly caused operational disruptions, with concerns raised over Kapil bringing in new personnel.
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Hajarnis will lead the company’s technology strategy, focusing on digital transformation and the integration of AI-driven customer solutions. “Salil’s expertise in AI, enterprise architecture, and digital innovation makes him an invaluable addition to our leadership team,” said Arvind Kapil, Managing Director and CEO of Poonawalla Fincorp. “His ability to execute large-scale technology transformations will be critical in enhancing customer experiences and driving our competitive edge in the NBFC sector.”
With over 20 years of experience, Hajarnis brings a wealth of knowledge in enterprise architecture, software engineering, and AI integration. Before joining Poonawalla Fincorp, he served as head of technology for India at Fiserv, where he led initiatives in AI and API-enabled solutions, real-time integrations, and platform modernization across India, ASEAN, and Australia. Hajarnis also held senior positions at Capgemini, managing complex technology transformations for global financial institutions.
