On Monday, FSIB, the recruiting agency for directors of state-owned banks and financial institutions, suggested Ashok Chandra for the role of Managing Director (MD) and CEO of Punjab National Bank (PNB). He is presently the Executive Director of Canara Bank and will take over from Atul Kumar Goel, who is retiring in December. The Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) interviewed 16 candidates for the role of MD & CEO of PNB, according to a statement from the Bureau. “Based on their performance during the interviews, overall experience, and relevant criteria, the Bureau recommends Ashok Chandra for the MD and CEO position at PNB,” it stated. The final decision on this recommendation will be made by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. FSIB is chaired by Bhanu Pratap Sharma, a former secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), and includes members such as Animesh Chauhan, the former chairman and MD of Oriental Bank of Commerce, former RBI executive director Deepak Singhal, and Shailendra Bhandari, the former MD of ING Vysya Bank. Chandra began his banking career as a Probationary Officer at the former Corporation Bank in 1991. He has a Master’s degree in Economics and is a Certified Associate of the Indian Institute of Bankers. Nominations for the ET MSME Awards are currently open. The final date for applications is November 30, 2024. Click here to submit your entry for any of the 22 categories and have a chance to win a prestigious award. (You can also subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel now.)