More freedom, flexibility given to bank boards now, says Ravi Venkatesan

In that sense, BoB and SBI has a clear run way with less competition, says Venkatesan

RAVI VENKATESAN, former head of Microsoft India, is one of the few private sector professionals to head a public sector bank like Bank of Baroda as its non-executive chairman. This was part of the broader reform agenda of the government to induct talent from private sector into public sector banks. As Venkatesan is all set to hang up his boots after completion of a three-year term next month, he speaks to Debasis Mohapatra and Bibhu Ranjan Mishra on the state of affairs at state-owned banks, challenges faced by the banking system and steps required for improvement. Edited excerpts.

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