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Niyo reinstates Sai Sankar as CBO; forex business to add 100 plus roles in FY27
Appointment comes as travel fintech plans 100 plus hires and wider distribution
BENGALURU: Niyo has reappointed Sai Sankar as chief business officer for its forex business, signalling a sharper push into distribution-led growth as the travel fintech scales its cross-border operations.
A founding team member, Sankar returns after a two-year entrepreneurial break, having earlier spent nearly eight years helping build Niyo’s zero-forex-markup travel card and leading its travel card business as chief business officer in 2023.
The move comes as Niyo steps up ambitions in forex and outbound travel, targeting 10–15 per cent of India’s cross-border market. The company has outlined a 50-branch phygital expansion across high-traffic travel and forex corridors, deepening its physical footprint in cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Gurugram.
As part of the next phase, Niyo’s forex unit plans to add more than 100 roles in FY27, strengthening partner-facing teams and on-ground execution as outbound travel demand accelerates.
“Sai has played a defining role in shaping Niyo’s forex journey from the early days,” said Niyo founder and CEO Vinay Bagri. “As we scale distribution and partnerships, his execution focus will be critical to the next phase of growth.”
In his role, Sankar will drive distribution strategy, expand partner-led channels and build presence across key travel corridors, working closely with product and operations teams. The forex division is led by Niyo Forex CEO Amit Talwar.
“Niyo’s forex business is at an inflection point,” Sankar said. “With strong product-market fit and a clear roadmap, the focus now is scale, partnerships and accessibility for Indian travellers.”
Founded in 2015, Niyo has emerged as a leading travel fintech serving leisure travellers, students and professionals, blending digital-first forex products with a growing physical and partner-led network.
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Axis Bank named Official Banking Partner of DP World PGTI
Partnership supports all tournaments this season to grow professional golf in India.
MUMBAI: Axis Bank just teed up a hole-in-one partnership because when a bank sponsors golf’s biggest swing in India, even the fairways feel more financially secure. Axis Bank has been appointed Official Banking Partner of the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (DP World PGTI), strengthening its commitment to sporting excellence and community engagement while backing the growth of professional golf across the country.
Under the partnership, Axis Bank will support all DP World PGTI tournaments this season, contributing to talent development, enhanced tournament experiences and wider fan engagement. The collaboration aligns the bank’s values of precision, discipline and trust with the Tour’s focus on performance and opportunity.
Axis Bank executive director Munish Sharda said, “We are pleased to partner with DP World PGTI as its Official Banking Partner. Golf embodies precision, discipline, and a pursuit of excellence qualities that strongly reflect who we are at Axis Bank. This association also strengthens our engagement with India’s growing premium customer segments, where the sport has a deep and enduring connect.”
Professional Golf Tour of India president Kapil Dev said, “We are extremely pleased to welcome Axis Bank as a Tour Partner of the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India. Partnerships of this stature play a vital role in strengthening the foundation of the Tour, enhancing opportunities for our players, and expanding the sport’s reach across the country.”
Professional Golf Tour of India CEO Amandeep Johl added, “Axis Bank’s strong legacy of excellence, innovation, and nationwide reach aligns perfectly with DP World PGTI’s goal to elevate professional golf in India and provide greater opportunities for our players.”
In a sport where every stroke counts and every partnership drives distance, Axis Bank isn’t just backing golfers, it’s investing in the fairway to future, turning India’s greens into a stage where precision meets passion and every drive has the power to inspire.
