Interviews for SBI chief's post on June 29

Interviews to select the new chairman of State Bank of India (SBI) are scheduled for June 29. The incumbent chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya's term ends on October 6.

Bhattacharya had got a one-year extension in October 2016 in the wake of the merger of five subsidiaries of the bank. To avoid any disruption in the mega merger, the ministry decided that it was prudent to give her an extension.

The ministry has now scheduled interviews with the four managing directors of the bank to pick the next chairman.

The four managing directors of the bank -- Rajnish Kumar, managing director - National Banking Group, Praveen Kumar Gupta, managing director in charge of compliance and risk, B Sriram, managing director - Corporate Accounts Group, and Dinesh Khera, managing director in charge of subsidiaries -- are scheduled to attend the interview.

A source said the vigilance clearance, a prerequisite to qualify for the post, is complete.

The selection panel will have members and chairman of Bank Bureau Board (BBB).

Bhattacharya, the bank's first woman boss in its 212-year history, was appointed as chairman in 2013. She joined the bank as a probationary officer in September 1977 at the age of 22 years.

During her 36-year career with the bank, she held several positions, including working in foreign exchange, treasury, retail operations, human resources and investment banking. She has been involved in the launch of several new businesses such as SBI General Insurance, SBI Custodial Services and the SBI Macquarie Infrastructure Fund.