Palash Thakur
About Palash Thakur
Palash Thakur is the Vice President and Head of Data Analytics & Fraud at Interac Corp., where he leads initiatives in data governance and fraud prevention. He has extensive experience in data analytics and management, having held senior roles at CIBC and served on advisory boards for various organizations.
Work at Interac
Palash Thakur currently serves as the VP, Head of Data Analytics & Fraud (CDO) at Interac Corp. since 2021. In this role, he drives the delivery of a data tech transformation program, ensuring analytical environmental resiliency and enterprise adoption of the data governance program. He leads the Fraud Data Science and Fraud Operations functions, focusing on detecting emerging fraud trends and preventing financial crimes across all commercial products. Additionally, he spearheads the development of a holistic data analytics talent, education, and enablement plan, promoting a data-centric culture and fostering analytical innovation within the organization.
Previous Experience at CIBC
Palash Thakur held multiple positions at CIBC, including Senior Director, Chief Data Office from 2016 to 2017, and Senior Director, Data and Analytics from 2018 to 2021. He also worked as Director, Data Management Strategy, Marketing from 2013 to 2016, and as Business Systems Consultant from 2007 to 2010. His roles involved overseeing data management strategies and analytics initiatives, contributing to the organization's data-driven decision-making processes.
Education and Expertise
Palash Thakur earned a Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) in Mechanical Engineering from NIT Silchar, where he studied from 1996 to 2000. He furthered his education by obtaining a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Strategy from The University of British Columbia in 2007. His educational background provides a strong foundation for his expertise in data analytics and strategic management.
Advisory Roles and Contributions
In addition to his current role at Interac, Palash Thakur serves as an advisor at RideAlike since 2020. He has also been involved in advisory capacities at ThoughtSpot and Alteryx, serving on their Product Advisory and Executive Advisory Boards, respectively, from 2019 to 2021 and 2018 to 2020. Furthermore, he was an Advisory Board Member for the Masters of Business Analytics & AI program at Schulich School of Business - York University from 2018 to 2021.
Early Career at Tata Consultancy Services
Palash Thakur began his career as an IT Analyst at Tata Consultancy Services, where he worked from 2000 to 2006. This early experience laid the groundwork for his future roles in data management and analytics, contributing to his understanding of technology and its applications in business.