Currently serving as the Chief People Officer at Tonik Bank, the pioneering digital-only neobank in the Philippines, Dr. Varghese leads the bank’s human capital, cultural development, and talent strategy initiatives, fostering an agile and resilient organizational culture in a fast-evolving fintech environment.
Dr. Varghese’s distinguished career includes pivotal leadership roles at global tech powerhouses Google and Meta (formerly Facebook), where he managed HR and operations across Japan and the Asia Pacific region, steering people strategies that aligned with rapid regional growth and digital transformation goals. His prior roles at Dell and Infosys saw him excel in organizational development, HR strategy, and talent acquisition, playing a key part in shaping high-performance cultures and driving operational excellence.
In academia, Dr. Varghese has held influential roles, as a Visiting Professor at top business schools like XLRI Jamshedpur and IIM Kozhikode. His dual expertise in industry and academia equips him with a distinct perspective on leadership, organizational behavior, and the strategic integration of digital innovation in HR.
An alumnus of XLRI Jamshedpur (MBA) and a Sloan Fellow from London Business School, Dr. Varghese holds a Ph.D. from Aligarh Muslim University. He is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and serves as a Non-Executive Board member for various organizations, bringing deep insights into strategic change, digital transformation, and people analytics. An active mentor and coach, Dr. Varghese is deeply engaged with EdTech and fintech startups, leveraging his expertise to create meaningful social impact in education and technology.
