Pocket FM Appoints Former Bank of America Executive Abhilash Padival as CFO

Why Has Pocket FM Appointed a New Chief Financial Officer?

Audio storytelling platform Pocket FM has appointed Abhilash Padival as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), strengthening its leadership team as the company prepares for its next phase of global growth. The appointment comes shortly after the departure of former CFO Anurag Sharma, who stepped down in May this year.

With Pocket FM expanding internationally and investing heavily in technology and original content, the company is looking to build a stronger finance function to support its long term growth strategy and future capital requirements.

What Will Abhilash Padival Be Responsible For?

As CFO, Abhilash Padival will lead Pocket FM’s global finance organisation, overseeing key functions including financial strategy, capital allocation, business planning, investor relations, compliance, and corporate governance.

His appointment is expected to strengthen the company’s financial planning as it continues expanding into international markets and scaling its AI-driven audio entertainment platform.

A seasoned finance professional, Padival brings extensive experience in investment banking, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets.

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What Experience Does Abhilash Padival Bring?

Padival joins Pocket FM from Bank of America, where he spent more than seven years. Most recently, he led the bank’s consumer internet investment banking practice, advising several leading Indian startups on initial public offerings (IPOs), private fundraising, and mergers and acquisitions.

Before joining Bank of America, he held leadership roles at Quess Corp, Altisource, Avendus Capital, and Cyient, gaining experience across corporate strategy, investments, and M&A.

His background in advising high growth technology companies is expected to support Pocket FM as it continues scaling globally and evaluates future fundraising opportunities.

What Does This Mean for Pocket FM’s Growth Plans?

Commenting on the appointment, Pocket FM Co-founder and CEO Rohan Nayak said the company is entering its next phase of growth, making a stronger finance organisation an important strategic priority.

He added that Pocket FM will continue investing in technology, content creation, and international expansion, areas that require disciplined financial management and long-term capital planning.

The appointment also comes at a time when several Indian technology companies are strengthening their leadership teams ahead of larger global expansion plans and potential public market ambitions.

What Does This Mean for the Audio Entertainment Industry?

Pocket FM has emerged as one of India’s leading audio storytelling platforms, building a large user base through serialized audio content, AI-powered features, and creator-driven storytelling. As competition in digital entertainment intensifies, companies are increasingly investing in senior leadership, technology infrastructure, and global expansion to sustain growth.

The appointment of an experienced investment banker like Abhilash Padival signals Pocket FM’s intent to build a stronger financial foundation while preparing for its next stage of business growth. With deeper expertise in fundraising, corporate strategy, and capital markets, the company is positioning itself to scale its operations both in India and overseas.