Fintech company BharatPe has appointed Jitendra Gupta, ex-Managing Director of PayU, to its Board. This is Jitendra Gupta’s first official association with any company after leaving PayU last month. Jitendra will be joining the Co-Founders Ashneer Grover and Shashvat Nakrani, Sequoia’s Harshjit Sethi and Beenext’s Teru San on BharatPe’s Board. Insight Partners is also a Board Observer. 

 On his appointment to the board, Jitendra Gupta stated, “BharatPe is one of the few fintech companies in India creating a truly alternative lending business on the back of UPI acceptance. Their focus on merchants and the pace of execution is unprecedented. I am excited to see how BharatPe has been digitizing small merchants and truly driving the financial inclusion agenda of the govt.” 

Gupta is a Chartered Accountant, and an economics and commerce graduate from The Sydenham College. He became one of leading faces in the fintech industry after selling his company - Citrus Pay to PayU in 2016. Last month, he put in his papers and it was speculated that he may start his own venture later in 2019.

 Ashneer Grover, CEO and co-founder of BharatPe, said “We are elated to have Jitendra Gupta on the Board of BharatPe. At PayU, his contribution was instrumental in growing the company to great heights, and BharatPe is just at the stage, where Jitendra's insights and experience can support our next phase of growth. Both Jitendra and I are hardcore bankers at heart and excited to build the next generation of digi banking businesses in India. Jitendra is a highly respected and objective Founder and I look up to him to keep us honest to the multi-billion opportunity at hand.”

 BharatPe has been beefing up its team with hires from other companies. Last week, it announced the appointment of two senior hires in its product team. Ex-PayTM, Pawan Pathak joins the team as Senior Vice President - Product, and former Flipkart employee, Abhishek Sharma has been appointed as Vice President - Product.