FPSB India Appoints Ramesh Vishwanathan as Chief Executive Officer

The Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB) India, the standards-setting body for the financial planning profession in the country, has appointed Ramesh Vishwanathan as its new chief executive officer.

Vishwanathan is scheduled to officially take over the leadership role later this June. FPSB India operates as a subsidiary of the global Financial Planning Standards Board.

In his new role, Vishwanathan will be responsible for guiding FPSB India’s strategic roadmap and driving its growth initiatives. A primary focus of his mandate will be advancing the financial planning profession throughout India with a specific emphasis on expanding the certified financial planner (CFP) certification ecosystem.

Dante De Gori, CFP, and CEO of FPSB said that India is one of the world’s fastest-growing markets for professional financial planning. He added that Vishwanathan’s industry acumen will be instrumental in strengthening the profession and the broader CFP network in India.

“We are delighted to welcome Ramesh to the FPSB family. India continues to be one of the fastest-growing markets for the CFP certification globally, and we are confident that his leadership and industry expertise will further strengthen the financial planning profession and the CFP professional ecosystem in India,” De Gori said in a press release.

FPSB said in the release that Vishwanathan’s appointment coincides with notable growth for the financial planning sector in India. The financial planning sector has witnessed a 9.90 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in the number of certified professionals in India.

According to the release, India now has 3,534 CFPs, indicating an increasing demand for qualified advisors. Globally, the global CFP community has expanded by a net addition of 5,652 individuals, reaching a total of 236,300 professionals across 29 territories.

Ahead of his joining, Vishwanathan said that he looks forward to working with industry stakeholders to enhance consumer awareness and contribute in this regard.

“I am honoured to join FPSB India at an exciting phase of growth for the financial planning profession. I look forward to working closely with industry stakeholders and CFP professionals to further enhance awareness around financial planners who commit to ethics and competency standards and contribute towards the vision of a financially empowered Viksit Bharat,” he said.

Vishwanathan has over 25 years of leadership experience across the financial services industry with stints across the banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) industry.