NatWest Group, the London-based retail bank, is planning to hire more than 3,000 additional software engineers in India within the next two years.
NatWest is planning to set up a new technology solutions and software testing & development centre in the Indian city of Bangalore, a regional IT hub.
The bank has reportedly signed the lease contract for a new office, which spans over 370,000 square feet over 11 floors.
“We have an ambition to hire 3,000 engineers in India by the end of 2026 which means hiring talent with unique skillsets,” confirmed Scott Marcar, NatWest Group’s chief information officer.
Marcar explained the reason the bank wants to expand its presence in India, which is now the group’s second largest employee base outside the UK.
“Bengaluru is known for its vibrant technology sector and skilled talent pool, so this new office marks a significant chapter in our growth journey across India,” he said.
Marcar added that “strengthening our global operations further positions us at the forefront of innovation as we continue to prioritise improving the customer and colleague experience.”
Apart from Bengaluru, NatWest has offices in Gurugram and Chennai.
At a recent conference in London, Marcar called India “critical” for the bank’s global operations as the globally operating hubs in the sub-continent drive the digital transformation of the organisation, helping its customers to have easy access to banking services, he said.
New country head
Amid the ambitious plans to swell its army of engineers in India, the City of London-based bank recently named Ruchika Panesar as its new country head for India.
Panesar joined from American Express in New York City, where – up to September – she held the role of VP and global head of enterprise communication and marketing technology.
As a result, the previous country head, Punit Sood, retired from the bank at the end of September.
In a statement, the bank stressed that Panesar has over two decades of global experience across fintech and payment software disciplines.
“[She has] leveraged emerging technologies such as AI and Gen AI to drive innovation across digital experiences,” as the bank put it.
As head of India, will be chair of the India management committee and will report directly to Marcar in London.
“With over 17,000 colleagues working from our three locations in India, this is an important role for NatWest Group,” stressed Marcar.
“Ruchika’s appointment, along with investing in our new software engineering office in Bengaluru, showcases our commitment to building our capabilities in India,” he added.
UPCOMING EVENTS
QA FINANCIAL FORUM LONDON: RECAP
Last month, on September 11, QA Financial held the London conference of the QA Financial Forum, a global series of conference and networking meetings for software risk managers.
The agenda was designed to meet the needs of software testers working for banks and other financial firms working in regulated, complex markets.
Please check our special post-conference flipbook by clicking here.
READ MORE
- Cognizant drags rival Infosys to court over trade secrets
- Testaify claims tool is ‘100x faster than seasoned QA architect’
- Fast-growing Newgen sets sights on banks in Middle East
- ABN Amro hires nCino and CBA for digital upgrade
- QAFF London: Lloyds’ Richard Bishop on the rise of ‘green software’
Become a QA Financial subscriber – for FREE
* Receive our weekly newsletter * Priority invitations to our Forum events
