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Hari Velayudan
COO - OneCard
Professional Background
Hari Velayudan is a talented professional with a profound passion for the payments industry, exemplifying a wealth of expertise in setting up, building, and scaling operations and services within the payments domain. With a remarkable career spanning various heights of operational management and service excellence, Hari has significantly impacted organizations by enhancing operational efficiencies, risk management, compliance, and customer service.
Starting his career at ICICI Bank, Hari served as the Head of Credit Card and Merchant Acquiring Operations where he successfully led a significant team, ensuring the operations and service quality metrics were recognized on a global scale. Under his leadership, the team was awarded the "Best Operations Unit" within the bank and received the prestigious "Service Quality Award" from Visa, showcasing his strong capabilities in managing large teams and driving high standards of service delivery.
Following his successes at ICICI Bank, Hari played a pivotal role at Citrus Pay as the Vice President of Operations, Risk, and Service, where he managed an extraordinary 20X growth in transaction volume. His responsibilities included managing crucial relationships with banks and industry regulators, ensuring compliance while developing operational functionality that aligns with the rapid growth trajectory of the organization.
Perhaps one of Hari's notable achievements was his tenure at PhonePe where he took on the role of Head of Operations and Service, facilitating significant technological and operational advancements in the digital payments space. His leadership was integral to the success of various merchant operations while addressing not only operational excellence but also improving customer experience.
In addition to his leadership roles at major players in the fintech space, Hari's entrepreneurial spirit was on full display when he joined LazyPay, a consumer credit business under PayU. Here, he established the operations and collections function from the ground up, demonstrating his ability to innovate and find solutions during times of market expansion and evolution.
As a founding member of IMint, which later evolved into the coalition loyalty program PayBack, Hari conceptualized and built the operations domain, illustrating his capability to turn ideas into operational realities. His experience in navigating large-scale acquisitions, notably with the ICICI Bank and First Data joint venture for Merchant Acquiring Business, and the acquisition of CitrusPay by PayU for USD 130 million, speaks volumes about his strategic thinking and ability to integrate complex operational frameworks into successful business models.
Education and Achievements
Hari’s extensive education has been paramount to his success in the operations realm. He capitalized on his foundational knowledge by completing a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) at DG Vaishnav College. Following this, he went on to pursue Cost Accounting from the Institute of Cost Accountants of India, equipping him with critical analytical and financial management skills necessary for a successful career in the financial services and payments industry.
His academic journey culminated when he earned his MBA in Finance with gold medal honors from Bharathidasan Institute of Management in Tiruchirapalli. This distinguished achievement reflects his exceptional dedication to his studies and his relentless pursuit of excellence, continually positioning him for success in his professional endeavors.
Achievements
Throughout his illustrious career, Hari Velayudan has accumulated numerous accolades and recognitions.
- Awarded the "Best Operations Unit" for the Credit Card and Merchant Acquiring Operations team at ICICI Bank, highlighting his management and leadership skills.
- Received the "Service Quality Award" from Visa, recognizing excellence in service provision amongst a global cadre of banking operations.
- Instrumental in escalating transaction volumes by an incredible 20X during his VP tenure at Citrus Pay.
- Led the successful integration during two major acquisitions, ensuring seamless operational transitions.
- Garnered a distinguished academic record, earning a Gold Medal for his MBA studies demonstrating his commitment to ongoing learning and development in his professional life.
Hari Velayudan continues to be a key figure in the payments ecosystem, utilizing his rich background in operations, compliance, and service excellence to advance the capabilities of the organizations he is part of today and in the future. His multifaceted experiences and consistent achievements make him a valuable asset within the industry, helping shape the future of payments operations.
tags:[
Payments
Operations
Service Excellence
Risk Management
Regulatory Functions
Financial Services
Leadership
Banking Operations
Acquisitions
Merchant Acquiring
Customer Service
Credit Operations
E-com
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