Rajesh Hemrajani, former Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Paytm Payments Bank, is transitioning towards independent directorship and cybersecurity advisory roles, marking a shift from operational security leadership to strategic advisory responsibilities.
The development follows Hemrajani's tenure at Paytm Payments Bank, where he was responsible for overseeing information security, technology risk management and cybersecurity governance. His move towards advisory responsibilities comes amid increasing attention to digital security, regulatory compliance and technology-related risks across organisations.
Hemrajani joined Paytm Payments Bank as CISO in April 2020, bringing extensive experience in information security and risk management across financial services and other industries. His responsibilities at the bank included core IT security, network security, risk and compliance strategy, alongside measures supporting business continuity and cyber risk mitigation.
Before joining Paytm Payments Bank, Hemrajani served as CISO at IDFC FIRST Bank for more than three years. His professional experience also includes senior technology and information security positions at organisations such as the Royal Bank of Scotland, Nomura Securities and Emirates Airlines.
Over the course of his career, Hemrajani has worked across areas including information security policy development, infrastructure protection, risk assessment, compliance management and enterprise cybersecurity strategy.
His transition to independent director and advisory responsibilities represents a move towards providing strategic guidance on cybersecurity governance and technology risk rather than managing day-to-day security operations within a single organisation.
Independent directors and cybersecurity advisers can support businesses in assessing technology-related risks, strengthening governance frameworks and reviewing security practices. Their responsibilities may include advising leadership teams on cybersecurity preparedness, regulatory expectations, business continuity and organisational resilience.
The development comes as businesses increasingly rely on digital infrastructure, cloud-based services and artificial intelligence applications across their operations. These technologies have expanded the scope of cybersecurity oversight, requiring organisations to consider data protection, access management and the security implications of emerging technologies.
Within financial services, cybersecurity remains closely connected to operational resilience and regulatory compliance. Banks and other financial institutions handle sensitive customer information and operate interconnected technology systems, making information security an important component of enterprise risk management.
The growing adoption of AI-powered systems has also introduced additional considerations around data governance, model security and the management of automated processes. These developments have broadened discussions about the role of cybersecurity expertise in corporate decision-making.
Hemrajani's professional background across banking and technology provides experience in managing security requirements within complex organisational environments.
While his transition towards independent directorship and cybersecurity advisory work has been reported, specific board appointments, advisory mandates and the organisations involved have not been independently confirmed.
The move places Hemrajani among senior cybersecurity professionals exploring board-level and advisory responsibilities as organisations review their approaches to digital risk, information security and technology governance.
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