Rakesh Arya

About Rakesh Arya

Strategic & forward-looking banking leader with nearly three decades of multi-dimensional experience in driving enterprise transformation, sustainable growth, and risk-managed value creation. A unique blend of expertise & record of leadership across Corporate, Institutional, Retail Banking, Credit Risk, Stressed Asset Recovery, and Enterprise Governance. Recognized for aligning business ambition with sound risk principles, board-level oversight, and regulatory compliance.My journey spans full spectrum of banking starting with foundational, branch-level exposure, retail business, mid-market clients - progressing into leadership roles in credit risk, structured finance, international banking, and pan-India leadership in corporate relationship management & credit risk. A milestone in my career was establishing ICICI Bank’s U.S. business under the strict frameworks of US Fed, OCC & RBI—demonstrating agility in navigating complex regulatory & operational challenges in a mature market.Since 2009, I have played a leading role in shaping YES Bank, building & scaling Corporate Banking business across marquee client segments incl. MNCs - delivering revenue growth through strategic cross-sell, and maintaining impeccable asset quality. Post bank’s reorganisation in 2020, I was entrusted with reviving and de-risking the Bank franchise, strengthening the credit underwriting architecture, and rebuilding stakeholder trust - leading to my elevation as Chief Credit Risk Officer.In my current role, I provide enterprise-wide credit and risk leadership across Wholesale & Retail Banking, covering credit strategy, underwriting, policy, early warning systems, and resolution of stressed assets. I also collaborate closely on treasury risk & exposure governance, ensuring capital efficiency and strategic alignment with the bank’s ALM and credit direction. I chair key credit committees and engage with Board & Board level committees—including the Credit, Risk Management, and Audit Committees—to ensure strong governance, risk-adjusted growth, and regulatory compliance. A firm believer in regulatory compliant & governance-driven growth, I champion a culture of accountability, data-led decision-making, and cross-functional collaboration. Passionate about building resilient, future-focused institutions that deliver long-term stakeholder value through ethical banking & responsible risk-taking.Outside of work, I recharge through travel, find inspiration in nature, and pursue long-distance running incl. having completed international world major marathons of Chicago’24 & Tokyo’25

Experience

1. Chief Credit Risk Officer & Head- Resolution & Recoveries

   YES BANK

   Apr 2025 — Present · Mumbai, IN

   Responsible for shaping and executing Yes Bank’s credit risk management strategy across wholesale and retail banking portfolios. Oversee credit underwriting, portfolio risk management, and stressed asset resolution, ensuring alignment with business strategy, regulatory expectations, and defined risk appetite. Key Focus Areas include:1. Providing institution-wide leadership on credit risk underwriting & strategy, portfolio oversight, and governance2. Managing credit quality and risk within defined appetite & limits across all business segments, sectors, and product lines3. Strengthening credit evaluation & delivery frameworks, internal risk rating models, credit policies and operating guidelines across the organisation4. Leading credit decisioning, administration, and post-sanction monitoring while driving digital underwriting and real-time, scalable credit processes to ensure efficiency, compliance, and growth agility.5. Chairing key Credit Committees and engaging with the Board and Board-level committees—including Credit, Risk Management, and Audit Committees—to ensure strong governance, risk-adjusted growth, and regulatory compliance6. Resolution & Recoveries: Leading organization-wide stressed asset management strategy, driving recoveries, restructurings, and legal actions to safeguard the bank’s capital position and asset qualityBy combining deep credit expertise with data-driven insights and a forward-looking approach, ensuring Yes Bank’s sustainable growth while maintaining robust governance, resilience, and regulatory alignment.

Education

• Symbiosis Centre For Management and Human Resource Development

  PGDM, Finance

  1995 — 1997

• Punjab Engineering College

  B.E. (Hons), Mechanical Engineering

  1991 — 1995

Skills

• Trade Finance
• Financial Risk
• Loans
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Credit Risk
• Relationship Management
• Banking
• Business Development
• Credit Analysis
• Wealth Management
• Cross Selling
• Credit
• Investment Banking
• Financial Structuring
• Commercial Banking
• Finance
• Structured Finance
• International Banking Services