Dhaka: BRAC has appointed Arinjoy Dhar as its deputy executive director, placing him in charge of microfinance, technology, education, skills development, migration programme, and operations. According to United News of Bangladesh, Dhar brings a wealth of experience from senior leadership roles across the banking, microfinance, and technology sectors. He has a proven track record of driving digital transformation, operational excellence, and sustainable financial inclusion both in Bangladesh and international markets.
Dhar joined BRAC in January 2022 as the Senior Director of Microfinance, where he spearheaded a transformation that nearly doubled the programme's reach to serve 12 million clients across 3,300 branches. He has significantly influenced the strategic direction of BRAC's Microfinance programme and Technology. Before joining BRAC, Dhar spent over two decades with HSBC, holding executive roles across Hong Kong, Canada, China, and Bangladesh.
Throughout his tenure at BRAC, Dhar has initiated key inclusive finance projects, including bringing 1.5 million farmers under crop insurance coverage and extending Credit Shield Insurance to 12 million policies. He is also an advocate for technology and gender equality, successfully leading the digital transition of credit services through the Microfinance client app, which is now utilized by 1.7 million clients. His efforts have contributed to doubling female representation in leadership within an ecosystem where women make up 89 percent of borrowers and over 45 percent of the workforce.
Dhar holds several governance and advisory roles across corporate, academic, and non-profit organizations. He chairs BRACNet Limited and serves on the Boards of Directors of Guardian Life Insurance Company and BRAC IT Services. He also advises institutions like BRAC University, the University of Galway, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Dhar holds an MSc from Lancaster University and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK), CPA Australia, and the Institute of Certified Management Accountants (Australia).