Nikhilesh Govil
About Nikhilesh Govil
Nikhilesh Govil is the Head of Secured Lending at BharatPe, where he has worked since 2022. He has a strong background in finance, having held various senior positions at Kotak Investment Banking and has contributed to significant projects in digital lending and gold loans.
Work at BharatPe
Nikhilesh Govil currently serves as the Head of Secured Lending at BharatPe, a position he has held since 2022. In this role, he has been instrumental in launching a secured lending product for gold loans, expanding its reach to 10 major cities within a year of the pilot phase. Additionally, he has created a first-of-its-kind digital lending process in collaboration with product and tech teams. His leadership has also led to the implementation of an insurance attachment product, contributing to new revenue streams for the company.
Previous Experience at Kotak Investment Banking
Before joining BharatPe, Nikhilesh Govil had an extensive career at Kotak Investment Banking, where he worked for nearly a decade in various roles. He began as an Associate from 2006 to 2009, later advancing to Assistant Vice President from 2009 to 2011, and then to Vice President from 2011 to 2015. During his tenure, he successfully executed 34 transactions, facilitating corporates in raising over $10 billion through equity and debt.
Education and Expertise
Nikhilesh Govil holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDCM) with a focus on Finance from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, where he studied from 2004 to 2006. He also earned a Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) in Instrumentation & Control from the Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology, completing his studies from 2000 to 2004. His educational background has equipped him with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in the financial services sector.
Innovative Projects and Initiatives
At BharatPe, Nikhilesh Govil has led several innovative projects. He launched a Digital Gold product in collaboration with PC Jeweller, which is a currency backed by gold for redemption at stores and online. He also spearheaded an Online-to-Offline (O2O) integration project aimed at enhancing customer experience and sales conversion. Furthermore, he identified a $100 million untapped GST-based loan opportunity, demonstrating his ability to leverage market insights for product development.
Contributions to PC Jeweller
Nikhilesh Govil played a significant role in the growth of PC Jeweller's e-commerce business, achieving a sixfold increase through strategic initiatives. He led the acquisition of the brand AZVA from the World Gold Council and was pivotal in driving digital transformation in jewellery retail. His efforts included launching augmented reality experiences and achieving 100% year-on-year growth in the gift cards business.