New Delhi, India, Apr 06: Religare Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited (RHDFCL), a Housing Finance Company (HFC) focused on serving the underserved and informal segments in India, announced the appointment of Mr. Pankaj Rathi as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO). This appointment marks a significant milestone as RHDFCL accelerates its mission to make homeownership a reality for millions of low-income and informal-sector families across urban and semi-urban India.
In his role as CFO, Mr. Pankaj Rathi will focus on strengthening the financial foundation supporting RHDFCL’s growth following the recent change in the Group’s promotor. His priorities include building a diversified and cost-efficient funding base, maintaining capital adequacy and ensuing disciplined balance sheet management in line with regulatory requirements. He will also oversee the strengthening of the company’s financial governance and compliance frameworks across applicable RBI and NHB norms to support scalable and sustainable growth.
Mr. Indranil Choudhury, Group Chief Human Resources Officer, Religare Enterprises Limited, said, “Pankaj brings the kind of financial leadership RHDFCL requires at this stage of its growth. His experience in scaling housing finance businesses, managing complex capital structures, and operating within demanding regulatory environments makes him well-suited for this role. We believe his appointment will further strengthen our financial foundation as we continue to grow.”
Most recently, Mr. Rathi served as CFO of Grihum Housing Finance Limited, a TPG-backed housing finance company, where he led the finance function through two complex ownership transitions from Magma Housing to Poonawalla Housing, and subsequently to Grihum Housing Finance. During this period, he raised over USD 1.3 billion across diverse debt instruments including term loans, refinance, bonds/NCDs, portfolio assignments and instruments such as PTC/RMBS both from domestic and overseas financial institutions. He also played a key role in managing credit ratings, including driving rating upgrades during periods of ownership transition.
Prior to this, he spent nearly seven years at Xander Finance, an NBFC backed by the Xander Group, rising to CFO and overseeing financial reporting, regulatory compliance and fundraising. His earlier career includes stints at JM Financial, E&Y, and PwC, gaining broad experience across financial reporting, financial audits/ diligence, regulatory compliance, taxation, and business strategy.
Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Pankaj Rathi, Chief Financial Officer, RHDFCL, said, “I would like to extend my gratitude to the Board of Directors for giving me the opportunity to be part of this growth journey. I look forward to partnering with the team to execute the Company’s vision and enhance value for its shareholders, people and all stakeholders.”
A Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary with all India ranks in both disciplines, Mr. Rathi brings over 15 years of experience in banking and financial services. He is a recipient of the Leading CFO of the Year – BFSI (FY24) award by the Confederation of Indian Industry and was named among the 40 Under 40 Business Leaders (2025) by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
