Ajai Shukla frontrunner for PNB Housing Finance CEO post, sources say

The race for the top post at PNB Housing Finance has narrowed, with Ajai Shukla, Chief Business Officer (CBO) at Tata Capital Housing Finance, emerging as the frontrunner for the CEO position, multiple sources told CNBC-TV18.

Tata Capital did not respond to CNBC-TV18’s query. CNBC-TV18 has also reached out to Sachinder Bhinder and PNB Housing for comments; responses are awaited.

According to sources, the PNB Housing board has submitted a shortlist of candidates to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the National Housing Bank (NHB) for approval. Regulatory clearances for the appointment are currently in process.

Other key contenders include Jatul Anand, Executive Director at PNB Housing Finance, and Sachinder Bhinder, CEO of Aavas Financiers.

Shukla, a veteran in the financial services industry, has over two decades of experience in retail lending and housing finance and currently oversees business operations at Tata Capital Housing Finance.

Anand, who has been with PNB Housing since 2019, has led multiple strategic and operational initiatives, particularly in retail mortgage expansion.
Bhinder, heading Aavas Financiers since 2021, has extensive experience in affordable housing finance and previously held senior roles at HDFC Ltd.

The appointment process follows the resignation of Girish Kousgi, who stepped down as Managing Director and CEO of PNB Housing Finance on July 31, 2025, citing personal reasons. His resignation came into effect on October 28.