Prashant Poojari

About Prashant Poojari

Board-level Audit, Risk, and Governance leader with 23+ years of post-qualification experience, including 15+ years in global leadership roles, advising Boards, Audit Committees, and senior executives across Banking, BFSI, IT/ITeS, Manufacturing, and Services sectors.Recognized for building and leading independent, risk-based Internal Audit and GRC functions that strengthen governance, enhance control maturity, and support sustainable business growth. Extensive experience across enterprise risk management, SOX/ICFR, cyber security, data privacy, and regulatory compliance, with hands-on oversight of SOC 1 & 2, HITRUST, PCI-DSS, ISO 27001, and Business Continuity Management programs.Currently serving as Senior Director – Global Risk & Compliance, partnering closely with executive leadership, regulators, and external auditors to provide clear, objective insight on risk posture, control effectiveness, and governance outcomes. Known for translating complex technical and regulatory risks into concise, Board-relevant narratives that enable informed decision-making.Previously led global Internal Audit and Assurance functions as Vice President & Global Head – Internal Audit, including enterprise risk assessments, SOX implementation, operational risk frameworks, and independent fraud investigations. Strong experience managing Big 4 and specialist firms for cyber security and data privacy reviews.A Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), and Certified Sarbanes-Oxley Expert (CSOE), bringing a balanced perspective of independence, commercial pragmatism, and regulatory rigor.Passionate about strong governance, ethical leadership, and technology-enabled assurance, and contributing at the Board and Audit Committee level to strengthen oversight, resilience, and stakeholder trust.

Experience

1. Senior Director - Global Risk & Complaince

   Exela Technologies

   Mar 2025 — Present · Mumbai, IN

   Results-driven GRC leader with extensive experience in managing compliance functions, SOX-IT controls testing, and enterprise-wide governance initiatives. Proven expertise in developing and overseeing IT security policies, procedures, and managing regulatory and industry certifications including HITRUST, PCI-DSS, SOC 1 & 2, ISO 27001, contractual compliance, and business continuity frameworks.Strong track record in executing SOX ITGC testing, remediation, and audit coordination to support organizational risk and compliance objectives.Currently leading automation projects focused on streamlining ITGC and Common Control Framework (CCF) testing through the effective use of workflow applications and AI integration, improving control efficiency and reporting accuracy.

Education

• SOXCPA

  Certified Sarbanes Oxley Expert

• IIA-The Institute of Internal Auditors

  Certified Internal Auditor

• ICAI

  CA,, Finance & Accountancy, Auditing, Risk Management

  1998 — 2002

• P D Lions College of Commerce

  Bachelor of Commerce, Accounts, Taxation, Company Law

  1997 — 1998

• ISACA

  CISA, Informations Systems Audit

  2008 — 2008