MUMBAI: AI– especially it’s use to improve productivity and work flows -  is the juice that’s keeping organisations moving forward and invest in it greatly. The Mahindra group is not far behind. It recently appointed Devendra Sharnagat as the senior vice-president of the AI division. In this new role, he will oversee the centralised data and AI expertise pool, driving the group’s AI initiatives across various companies.

Hitherto, he was the chief data & analytics officer at Mahindra Finance where  he was leading data and analytics function for the financial services sector and driving business effeciency and productivity through data and digital.

He has spent a large part of his career at HDFC Bank (eight years) where he rose from being manager campaign management in the credit card division to deputy vice-president analytical marketing when he decided to quit and join Kotak Mahindra Bank. A 11-year stint there saw him rise from vice-president, head – BIU & customer value management to senior executive vice-presdent – head of data and analytics. He then made a lateral move in the Mahindra  group to Mahindra Finance.

Sharnagat is well  wired for the job.  Apart from  his work experience, he holds a master’s degree in technology from Bits Pilani and a master of management studies from Sydenham Institute of Management Studies.