IDFC FIRST Bank has announced the appointment of Shreepad Shende as its new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), signalling a renewed focus on brand strategy, customer engagement, and financial literacy initiatives. The appointment comes following the departure of former CMO TV Narayan.
Shende, who has been with IDFC FIRST Bank for over seven years, returns to the marketing domain after a successful tenure in business strategy. He initially joined the bank in September 2019 as Chief Marketing & Communications Officer and later transitioned to Head of Business Excellence & Corporate Strategy, leading several strategic growth initiatives. His deep understanding of the bank’s operations, combined with marketing expertise, makes him uniquely positioned to drive the bank’s brand and customer engagement strategies.
Before his tenure at IDFC FIRST Bank, Shende accumulated nearly 12 years of experience at ICICI Bank, as well as leadership roles at Nokia, Tata AIG Life Insurance, and HDFC Bank, which provided him with a broad perspective across the financial services and consumer technology sectors.
In a recent interview, Shende highlighted his commitment to financial literacy, stating, “Financial literacy should be a right for all, not a privilege.” This approach reflects his vision of connecting with customers beyond traditional banking transactions, fostering a deeper and more meaningful relationship.
As CMO, Shende will oversee branding, communications, and customer engagement, aiming to strengthen IDFC FIRST Bank’s market presence in an increasingly competitive financial services landscape. Industry observers note that his elevation underscores the importance of leveraging internal talent while reinforcing the bank’s strategy to focus on customer-centric, brand-led growth.