Citigroup has appointed Nisha Padbidri as Global Head of HR Partnership for Technology, Operations, HR and Functions, marking the first time the role will be based in Mumbai, India.
Padbidri will oversee HR business partnership for more than 140,000 employees, representing over 62% of Citi’s global workforce across 98 countries. Her appointment underscores the bank’s growing reliance on India as a hub for both business growth and leadership talent.
Having joined Citi 29 years ago, Padbidri has held senior HR leadership positions in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. Her elevation, the bank said, reflects the maturity of India’s leadership pipeline and Citi’s continued investment in globally distributed talent centres.
In her new remit, Padbidri said she will focus on “integrating AI, automation, and data-driven decision-making with empathy and purpose.” She added that the role of HR leadership “is no longer restricted to a geography. Whether it is embedding AI into the workforce or promoting inclusive talent, the mandate is global and the impact human.”
The move comes as global banks increasingly concentrate senior decision-making in India, recognising its significance not only as a talent base but also as a strategic driver of future growth.
