Jio Financial Services (JFS), the financial services arm of the Reliance Group, has strengthened its senior leadership with the appointment of Venkata Narasimham Peri as its Group Chief Operating Officer (COO). The decision was approved by the company’s board of directors on December 17, 2025, and Peri will officially assume the role from December 22, 2025. He will be part of the core leadership team steering the company’s next phase of growth.
This appointment comes at a crucial time for Jio Financial Services as it continues to expand its operations across lending, payments, insurance, and technology-led financial solutions. With increasing competition in India’s fast-evolving fintech ecosystem, the company is focusing on building a strong operational backbone to support scale and innovation.
A Leader with Deep Experience in Finance and Technology
Venkata Narasimham Peri brings over 25 years of global experience across finance, consulting, technology, and analytics. He has been associated with Jio Financial Services since October 2024, when he joined as a Senior Executive Advisor. In that role, he worked closely with the CEO, CTO, and analytics teams to help shape the company’s AI and data-driven strategy.
Academically, Peri has a strong foundation, having studied at the London School of Economics and earned a Master of Computer Applications degree from NIT Rourkela. Over the years, he has worked with leading global organisations such as IBM, Deloitte, and PwC, advising boards and top management on areas including financial strategy, risk management, technology transformation, and analytics, particularly within banking and insurance.
Entrepreneurial and AI-Focused Background
Beyond corporate leadership roles, Peri also has entrepreneurial experience. He founded a US-based health technology company, CognitiveCare, where he served as CEO for six years. His work focused on combining healthcare with advanced technology solutions, showcasing his ability to build and scale innovation-driven businesses.
More recently, he served as Chief AI Officer at L V Prasad Eye Institute, where he led initiatives around artificial intelligence and digital transformation in healthcare. His career also includes setting up CFO and CRO advisory service offerings, helping organisations strengthen governance, leadership, and operational efficiency.
Filling a Key Leadership Gap at JFS
The Group COO position at Jio Financial Services had remained vacant since mid-2024, following the transition of the former COO to other responsibilities. During this period, the company’s operational leadership was jointly managed by Managing Director and CEO Hitesh Sethia and Chief Financial Officer Abhishek Pathak.
With Peri’s appointment, JFS is expected to bring sharper focus to execution, operational discipline, and integration across its various businesses. His blend of finance, technology, and analytics expertise is seen as a strong fit for a company that is building a technology-first financial services platform.
Supporting JFS’s Growth Ambitions
Jio Financial Services has been steadily strengthening its position in the Indian financial services market. The company recently reported solid financial performance, driven largely by growth in interest income and expanding operations. As JFS looks to scale further and introduce more digital-first offerings, operational leadership will play a critical role.
Peri’s role as Group COO is expected to focus on streamlining processes, improving efficiency, and aligning technology with business goals. His appointment underlines JFS’s long-term vision of leveraging data, AI, and innovation to make financial services more accessible and efficient for Indian consumers.
With this leadership addition, Jio Financial Services appears well-positioned to accelerate its growth journey and deepen its presence across India’s rapidly transforming fintech landscape.