Tapesh Bhatnagar, Head, Digital Solutions, G+D India
Tapesh Bhatnagar leads Giesecke+Devrient’s Digital Solutions business in India, helping banks and fintech companies move from OTP-based authentication to modern, password-less frameworks such as passkeys built on FIDO standards. He is focused on driving wider market adoption, deepening engagement with key customers and strengthening partnerships across the banking, fintech and payments ecosystem. “The road ahead is full of both challenges and exciting possibilities,” he notes, reflecting on his role in shaping India’s digital trust landscape through the FIDO India Working Group.
He sees clear shifts ahead. Password-less authentication is “becoming the new default” as regulators raise the bar on security and users demand simpler journeys, with passkeys as phishing-resistant methods set to replace SMS OTPs at scale. He also expects AI and machine learning to transform risk management from reactive detection to proactive, real-time based on behavioral intelligence. Overall, he believes the sector is moving toward a future that is “more secure, intelligent and customer-centric.”
With over two decades in digital banking and payments, Bhatnagar’s expertise spans secure technologies, authentication, product management and business development. At G+D he drives solution sales across authentication, passkeys, tokenisation and next-generation digital payment experiences, while contributing to national conversations on digital trust as Co-Vice Chair of the FIDO India Working Group. Based in Mumbai, he is known for his thought leadership on RBI’s evolving authentication guidelines, the rise of passkeys and the future of secured transactions enabling further adoption of digital payments.
What excites him the most is the opportunity to shape the future of digital banking at a time when the industry is undergoing transformation. “I enjoy working at the intersection of technology, security and user experience, where every solution we build has a real impact on how people access financial services,” he adds.
He cites solution selling with a strategic approach as a key strength. In practice, he leads with a customer-centric, inclusive style focused on outcomes and efficient use of resources.
Bhatnagar holds an MBA in Marketing (2009) and a bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering from Nagpur University (1997). Away from work, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, indoor games and watching films and plays. Originally from Rajasthan, he has been living in Mumbai for 23 years with his wife, son, daughter and parents.
