NPCI BHIM Services appoints Gaurav Kochhar as Chief of Business

MUMBAI: In India’s fast-moving payments race, NPCI BHIM Services has added another seasoned hand to its leadership deck. NPCI BHIM Services Limited (NBSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has appointed Gaurav Kochhar as its new Chief of Business, reinforcing its leadership team as it looks to accelerate growth and deepen its footprint in India’s rapidly evolving digital payments ecosystem.

In his new role, Kochhar will lead initiatives aimed at strengthening NBSL’s digital payments capabilities, expanding market reach and driving business growth. His responsibilities will include merchant acquisition, business development and enhancing engagement with banks, fintech firms and ecosystem partners to broaden the adoption of the company’s products and services.

Kochhar brings more than 20 years of experience across the banking, fintech and telecommunications sectors. Prior to joining NBSL, he headed the UPI, Digital Payments and API Banking business at ICICI Bank, where he played a key role in advancing the bank’s digital payments strategy.

Over the course of his career, he has also held leadership positions at HDFC Bank, Vodafone and Spice Communications, building expertise across digital banking, payments innovation and partnership-led business models.

The appointment comes at a time when India’s digital payments landscape continues to expand rapidly, driven by growing UPI adoption, increasing merchant digitisation and deeper collaboration between banks and fintech companies. As competition intensifies, organisations are increasingly focusing on leadership talent capable of scaling platforms and strengthening ecosystem partnerships.

Commenting on the appointment, NBSL MD and CEO Lalitha Nataraj said Kochhar’s understanding of the digital payments sector and experience in building high-growth businesses would help strengthen the organisation’s capabilities and support its next phase of expansion.

With digital transactions becoming a cornerstone of India’s financial ecosystem, Kochhar’s appointment signals NBSL’s intent to further scale its reach, enhance partnerships and capitalise on the growing opportunities emerging across the country’s payments landscape.