Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, May 2026 — Private Sector Bank Karnataka Bank has appointed seasoned banking leader Ms. Biji SS as its Whole-time Director (Executive Director), strengthening the bank’s leadership team at a time when the institution is accelerating its transformation and growth agenda across retail, MSME and branch banking businesses.
The ED search and appointment was successfully facilitated by Venator Search Partners, a leading retained executive search firm specialising in leadership hiring in the BFSI sector. Over the years, Venator Search Partners has successfully facilitated more than 59 CXO-level appointments across Universal Banks, Small Finance Banks, NBFCs, Housing Finance Companies and other financial institutions in India.
Karnataka Bank has received in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India for Ms. Biji SS’s appointment, subject to shareholder approval.
Ms. Biji SS brings more than three decades of banking experience from South Indian Bank, where she rose through the ranks from trainee officer to Chief General Manager. Widely respected for her operational depth and leadership execution, she has managed large-scale portfolios across branch banking, liabilities, MSME, retail assets and third-party distribution businesses.
In her most recent role at South Indian Bank, she headed Branch Banking and Liabilities, Micro & Small Enterprises and Third Party Products, overseeing a business portfolio of approximately Rs. 1.68 lakh crore across nearly 950 branches nationwide. She has also played an instrumental role in strengthening corporate banking relationships and expanding supply-chain and co-lending verticals.
Commenting on the appointment, Deepraditya Datta, Founder of Venator Search Partners, said, “Leadership transitions in banking today require far more than conventional functional expertise. Institutions are looking for leaders who combine execution capability, customer orientation, operational resilience and the ability to drive transformation at scale. Ms. Biji SS represents that rare blend of deep retail banking exposure, institutional leadership and pan-India operational experience. Her journey from grassroots banking to the highest levels of leadership reflects exceptional credibility, perseverance and strategic maturity. We are delighted to have partnered with Karnataka Bank on this important leadership mandate.”
Industry observers view the appointment as strategically significant for Karnataka Bank as it sharpens focus on franchise expansion, liability growth, customer acquisition and operational strengthening in an increasingly competitive banking environment.
Karnataka Bank is a leading ‘A’ Class Scheduled Commercial Bank in India. Incorporated on 18th February 1924 in Mangaluru, Karnataka, the bank has built a strong presence across India through customer-centric banking solutions tailored for individuals, businesses, and enterprises. The bank continues to focus on innovation, professionalism, and personalised banking experiences while strengthening its retail, MSME, and digital banking capabilities.
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