HDFC Life re-appoints Vibha Padalkar as MD and CEO for a 5-year term

HDFC Life’s Board of Directors on Tuesday approved the re-appointment of Vibha Padalkar as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company for a period of five years effective September 12, 2026. The reappointment is subject to approval of the shareholders and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India.

Vibha Padalkar is the current Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of HDFC Life. The company said it has, under her leadership, demonstrated consistent performance across business cycles, supported by focused strategy, disciplined execution and emphasis on sustainable growth.

Padalkar got associated with HDFC Life in 2008 and since then, she has severd in various leadership roles. She also played a key role in strengthening the company’s financial framework and was instrumental in the successful listing of HDFC Life in 2017.

Padalkar was at the helm when the company completed the first merger and acquisition transaction in the Indian life insurance sector, marking a milestone for the industry.

Padalkar was a member of the Executive Commitee of the Life Insurance Council and actively engages with industry-level initiatives. She became a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales in 1992 and is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

Padalkar has earned many accolades over the course of her career, including the ‘CA Business Leader – Large Corporates – BFSI’ award at the 15th ICAI Awards by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. She has also been honoured by the ET Prime Women Leadership Awards and IMA India.

Padalkar has also been featured in Business Today’s list of the ‘Top 30 Most Powerful Women in Business’ for six consecutive years (2018 to 2023 and in 2025). The magazine featured her in their elite list of ‘Timeless Icons’ in 2024. She was recognised by Fortune International as one of the ‘Most Powerful Women
in Business’ in 2021, and by Fortune India as one of the ‘Most Powerful Women in Business’ for five consecutive years (2021 to 2025).

Vibha was honoured by Business World as one of the ‘Most Valuable CEOs’ in 2022 and 2023 and featured in their ‘Most Influential Women in Business’ list for 2022. In 2024, India Today included her in their prestigious ‘The She List’.

The Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence 2025 named Vibha Padalkar as ‘Businesswoman of the Year’.