Suraj Rajappan Named CEO of Kotak Mahindra Prime, Succeeding Shahrukh Todiwala

Kotak Mahindra Prime Limited has appointed Suraj Rajappan as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, with his three-year term beginning on June 1, 2026. He will succeed the current MD & CEO, Shahrukh Todiwala, who is set to superannuate on May 31, 2026, after more than 30 years with the Kotak Group. Rajappan, who began his career at KMPL, brings 24 years of cross-functional experience within the organization. The company, a subsidiary of Kotak Mahindra Bank, stated it will continue to focus on disciplined growth, innovation, and customer experience under the new leadership.

Key Points: Kotak Mahindra Prime Appoints Suraj Rajappan as New CEO

  • Leadership transition effective June 2026
  • Todiwala served over three decades
  • Rajappan has 24 years at KMPL
  • Focus on disciplined growth and innovation
2 min read

Kotak Mahindra Prime names Suraj Rajappan as CEO with incumbent set to superannuate

Kotak Mahindra Prime names Suraj Rajappan as MD & CEO effective June 2026, succeeding Shahrukh Todiwala who will superannuate.

"His deep industry experience and execution abilities position KMPL well for its next phase of growth. - Ashok Vaswani"

New Delhi, March 30

Vehicle finance company Kotak Mahindra Prime Limited on Monday announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Suraj Rajappan as Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer for a three‑year term effective, June 1, 2026, subject to approval of members.

The current MD and CEO, Shahrukh Todiwala, will superannuate on (May 31, 2026) after serving the Kotak Group for over three decades, the release further said.

Suraj Rajappan began his career with KMPL and brings 24 years of cross‑functional experience across the entity, the firm said. KMPL is a subsidiary of Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited.

"We welcome Suraj to the helm. His deep industry experience and execution abilities position KMPL well for its next phase of growth," said Ashok Vaswani, MD and CEO, Kotak Mahindra Bank.

Shahrukh leaves a strong legacy of prudent growth, risk discipline and customer centricity at Kotak Mahindra Prime, he added.

Suraj Rajappan said that KMPL will continue to focus on disciplined growth, innovation and best‑in‑class customer experience and further strengthen our partnership with all OEMs and dealer partners.

"Over nearly three decades, KMPL has evolved alongside India's automotive and consumer‑credit markets, building a company anchored in risk discipline, governance and institutional continuity, while remaining closely aligned with the Kotak Group's broader financial‑services ecosystem," the release said.

KMPL was incorporated in 1996, as a 60:40 joint venture between Kotak Mahindra Finance and Ford Credit International, an organised car‑finance platform.

In 2005, Kotak Mahindra Bank acquired Ford Credit's stake, making the company a wholly‑owned subsidiary of the Kotak Group, following which it was renamed Kotak Mahindra Prime Limited.

In 2025, DPIIT signed an MoU with Kotak Mahindra Bank to strengthen the nation's startup ecosystem.

The strategic collaboration with Kotak Mahindra Bank aims to create a comprehensive framework enabling startups to access customised banking solutions, credit and funding opportunities, digital and payment infrastructure, and capacity-building programmes, an official statement said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Interesting move. Appointing a CEO with a 2026 start date gives a long runway for handover. Suraj Rajappan's 24 years within KMPL shows they value deep institutional knowledge. Hope this continuity benefits customers with better products.
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Rohit P
Kotak Prime has been my go-to for two car loans. Service has been excellent. If the new CEO can maintain that customer-centricity while bringing innovation, it's a win-win. The partnership with OEMs mentioned is key for good deals.
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Sarah B
While internal promotions are great for morale, I hope this doesn't lead to groupthink. The auto finance sector is changing fast with EVs and new ownership models. A fresh external perspective sometimes helps challenge the status quo. Just a thought.
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Vikram M
The article mentions their start as a JV with Ford Credit. It's a great example of a successful Indian company absorbing foreign expertise and then thriving independently. More such stories in our financial sector, please!
K
Kavya N
The MoU with DPIIT for startups is the more exciting part for me! If Kotak can leverage its vehicle finance arm to help mobility startups (EVs, fleet tech, etc.), that could be a game-changer for the ecosystem. Hope the new leadership pushes this.

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