We spent some time getting to
know our People and Places Director and HR Head, Dr Vipul, whose 25 years of experience in
IT Services, Telecommunications and Consumer Industries, has made for an
interesting career path.
Here, we learn about his career highlights, what excites him for the future, and his vision for growing the culture within Lloyds Technology Centre.
I was one of the first 100 colleagues to work in the telephony industry in India when it was brand new. After six years, I became the 174th colleague to join Accenture in Hyderabad – a company which now has over a quarter of a million people working for them in India. Before joining Lloyds Technology Centre I was the SVP - Head of Global Services for a global HR company, where I drove the digitisation of 219 processes through robotics and AI. And of course now I can also be proud to be one of the first ten people to join Lloyds Technology Centre.
You’ve worked for other global companies, but what attracted you to Lloyds Technology Centre?
When I first considered the role, I found a lot of similarities with places I had previously worked. Having learnt from experience in setting up international teams, I knew I’d be able to play a pivotal role for the Centre and would be able to draw on decades of experience.
In India, banks are incredibly ‘technology enabled’. There’s a wealth of technology talent here, and if we nurture that talent, we’ll be able to make a significant impact across Lloyds Banking Group.
What excites you most about the journey we’re on?
We're creating something totally new, but we'll blend it with the old to guide our decision making. In my first few weeks, everyone I've met so far – whether they’ve worked for the Group for 20 years, or signed their contract 20 minutes ago, has proved that our people are a huge asset.
We have a great opportunity to build a culture which isn’t positive only in Hyderabad but can influence teams over 4,500 miles away in the UK. I want to build something that’s differentiated from the wider Group whilst being ‘unmistakeably Lloyds’.
What behaviours do you believe we need to ensure we’re successful?
Integrity is so important. It brings to life our values and ensures our people have an inclusive mindset. I also think we should be able to trust everyone we work with.
Also being bold; we need people to take calculated risks, so being empowered to do things differently, and feel supported in doing so is essential. The previous behaviour I mentioned, integrity, also plays a big role here.
Finally, ambition. Or, you could say goal and growth oriented. I want people to know they make a difference and that the work they do will have a huge impact far beyond their roles at Lloyds Technology Centre, but they will impact the wider Group too.
What’s been your favourite innovation from the last 20 years of your career?
There’s actually two things. Firstly, the use of robotics in HR delivery. When we first started talking about it, no one thought robotics could support the work. Now, we wonder how we managed without!
Secondly, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) which you can find everywhere in India. UPI is similar in many ways to Open Banking in the UK, but it goes deeper. It’s made managing payments faster, safer and seamless for over a billion people. Without UPI, India wouldn’t function.
How do you stay up to date with the ever-changing technology landscape?
I’m an avid reader with particular interests in business and technology. I’m a ‘techie’ at heart, if not by education. I may not know how to write code or build software – but I’m acutely aware of the level and impact technology has in our modern world.
When you’re not working, how do you take time out to relax?
I travel a lot for work, so being at home with my family plays a huge role in my life. I’m a big cricket fan. I played cricket at an international, national and state level in my youth. As I mentioned earlier, I’m also an eager reader!
Finally, what piece of technology could you not live without?
That would have to be my iPhone! I don’t think I can limit it to a single item, everything I own from Apple has transformed my life in different ways. From the iPhone to the AirTag, their products integrate seamlessly and have a huge impact on people’s lives.
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