Arundhati Bhattacharya, Chairperson and CEO of Salesforce India, has been conferred with the highest civilian award, Padma Shri for her exceptional contributions to the field of trade and industry. She has driven digital innovation and leadership in banking and tech for over four decades, from steering India’s largest public sector bank to driving Salesforce’s growth in the country. She is the first woman to be the Chairperson of State Bank of India. In 2016, she was also listed as the 25th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes. She came to be known as the leader who blends tradition with innovation to refine industry standards.
During her tenure at SBI, she led several transformative initiatives. She launched YONO, an integrated digital banking platform, changing customer experiences and financial inclusion. She led the merging of SBI with five associate banks and Bharatiya Mahila Bank, creating one of the world’s largest financial institutions. She also welcomed critical reforms in SBI, including India’s 2016 demonetization, while enhancing employee welfare policies like extended maternity leave.
In 2020, she took on a new challenge as CEO of Salesforce India, shifting from banking to tech. She proved her excellence, despite initial skepticism. She expanded Salesforce India’s team from 2,500 to over 13,000 employees, with a fivefold increase in client-facing roles. Under her leadership, company’s annual revenue sore to ₹6,000 crore (FY23) and achieved 50% year-on-year growth through CRM solutions and AI-driven tools.She also built a 2 million-strong Trailblazer community for tech upskilling and partnered with 2,500+ colleges to integrate Salesforce certifications into curricula.
Upon receiving Padma shri Arundhati Bhattacharya expressed deep gratitude for the honor, “I am deeply humbled to receive the Padma Shri award, one of India’s most esteemed recognitions. This honor reflects the incredible opportunities I’ve had to contribute to India’s trade and industry. From my journey in banking to leading Salesforce India, I’ve witnessed how vision and innovation can transform lives and businesses.”
“My heartfelt gratitude to the Government of India and everyone who has been part of this journey. I also extend my warm congratulations to all the other Padma Awardees whose remarkable contributions continue to inspire and elevate our nation. This award reaffirms my commitment to championing innovation, inclusivity, and resilience in India’s growth story,” she added.
