Smita Bhagat
Independent Director | Advisor and Angel Investor | Former Group head HDFC Bank
Tyger Capital•Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
View LinkedIn ProfileExecutive Overview
Senior banking and financial services professional with over three decades experience in building and scaling businesses across Branch Banking, Government and Institutional Banking, Retail Forex, Alternate Channels, and Financial Inclusion.Across all of it, managed large teams across geographies and stakeholders, incubated new business lines, and built distribution in markets where conventional models don't reach.Key milestones include building distribution across branch network, Government and Institutional Banking business, alternate banking channel and partnerships nationwide from the ground up.Launched India's first digital distribution platform for banking products with corporate BC partners, and lead the merger of key HDFC Ltd Key partners into the bank's alternate channel framework, the first bank in the industry to secure all regulatory approvals for that structure.Was recognised as Economic Times Woman Ahead in 2016. Was part of various government committees and industry organizations like CII. Received the CII Award for Best Innovation in BFSI space.
Career Timeline
- May 2026–Present· 5 mos
- Independent DirectorCurrentMay 2026–Present
- Tyger CapitalCurrent2026–Present· 9 mos
- Independent DirectorCurrent2026–Present
- HDFC BankCurrent1999–Present· 27 yrs 9 mos
- Country Head, OperationsCurrent1999–Present
- 2021–2025· 4 yrs
- Board Member2021–2025
- Jun 2019–May 2025· 5 yrs 11 mos
- Board MemberJun 2019–May 2025
- Jun 1999–May 2025· 25 yrs 11 mos
- Group Head: Branch Banking, Government, Retail Forex, & Alternate ChannelsJun 2023–May 2025
- Country Head – Govt & Institutional Business, E-commerce, Startup Banking & Inclusive Banking (IBIG)Dec 2017–May 2023
- Director, Branch BankingJun 2010–Dec 2017
- Branch BankingJun 1999–Dec 2010