Sivakumar Varadarajan

About Sivakumar Varadarajan

Board-ready business leader with over four decades of experience across banking, governance, and entrepreneurship, including leadership roles at HDFC Bank and Royal Bank of Scotland, and as Co-Founder & Director of Earth Rhythm, I bring a unique combination of institutional leadership and entrepreneurial execution, having successfully transitioned from leading large-scale banking operations to building and scaling high-growth consumer businesses from the ground up.At Earth Rhythm, I have been instrumental in transforming a homegrown startup into a professionally managed organization with a portfolio of 170+ SKUs, and a strong presence across leading e-commerce platforms including Amazon, Nykaa, Myntra, Blinkit, Zepto, and international markets spanning 12+ countries.My role encompasses end-to-end leadership across operations, manufacturing, finance, compliance, regulatory frameworks, and strategic growth initiatives. I have built robust systems, governance structures, and scalable processes to ensure sustainable growth, accountability, and operational excellence.During my tenure in banking, I have consistently been a top performer, managing large portfolios (₹3,500+ crores), leading teams of over 1,500 professionals, and driving business expansion across regions. As National Head – Business Banking at Royal Bank of Scotland, I expanded the credit portfolio fivefold significantly exceeding targets and contributing to national-level growth.At HDFC Bank, I played a key role in scaling branch banking operations across Tamil Nadu, establishing new branches, and consistently ranking among the top performers nationally across multiple business parameters.I have deep expertise in:• Business strategy & execution• Governance, risk & compliance• Scaling operations & process excellence• Financial oversight & performance management• Leadership development & team buildingI am now keen to contribute at the board level as an Independent Director, bringing strategic oversight, governance discipline, and practical business insights to organizations across sectors such as fintech, consumer products, and emerging startups.

Experience

1. Founding Board Member

   Earth Rhythm

   Oct 2020 — Present · Gurugram, IN

   Board & Senior Leadership Professional | Co-Founder, Director & COO – Earth Rhythm | Former National Head – Business Banking | Ex Royal Bank of Scotland & HDFC Bank | 40+ Years in Banking, Operations, Governance & Strategy | Independent Director

Education

• Sri Venkateswara University

  M Com, Commerce

  1978 — 1980

• Indian Institute of Bankers, Mumbai

  CAIIB-Inter, Banking

  1978 — 1984

• St Joseph's college, trichy

  B Com, Commerce

  1974 — 1977

• Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta

  Executive Programme, Corporate Regulations and IP