The DBS Bank, the group offering financial services from Singapore, has disclosed that the former head of corporate media relations at Hindustan Unilever has assumed the role of Head of Sustainability for the Institutional Banking Group, with a responsibility to deepen DBS’ sustainable finance franchise focusing on ESG business origination, advisory and financing solutions. She will work with corporates and institutions to get them transition into net-zero emissions, in which she will highlight the commitment of DBS in helping sustainability and environmental responsibility be realized in the region.
According to a DBS spokesperson, Gulrajani’s experience will be critical in spearheading sustainable finance efforts in the region. Her work will complement DBS’s aspiration of providing clients with one-stop ESG solutions as part of the bank’s efforts to continue its mission on climate change and sustainable economic development.
Gulrajani comes with over two decades of experience from her stint at BNP Paribas, where she was most recently the Head of Corporate Development & Sustainability for Asia-Pacific. There, she played a leading role in developing the bank’s ESG advisory services and sustainable banking solutions throughout the APAC region, positioning the bank as a leader in sustainable finance. Her deep experience in sustainability strategy and her network of relationships across the financial industry are expected to add strength to DBS’s sustainability efforts.
Besides her banking experience, Gulrajani is also co-lead of the Singapore-Asia Taxonomy workstream. This workstream aims to define green and transition economic activities to better direct capital toward sustainable and environmentally friendly projects. SSFA, in coordination with the MAS, had started late in 2023, the Singapore-Asia taxonomy for Sustainable finance. As SSFA, its role also includes reviewing further developments on this taxonomy as it progresses for continued aptness, in order that clear and effective flow of resources is directed into sustainable processes.
DBS has a great history in sustainability. Last year, it became the first Singapore bank to join the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, a bank alliance linked to the United Nations, committing to adjust investment and lending portfolios to the targets of net-zero emission by 2050. It reflects DBS’ strategic approach toward embedding climate actions in its operations and enabling its clients in the process of decarbonization.
The appointment aligns with DBS’s broader sustainability objectives and reflects the bank’s dedication to leading ESG finance in Asia. Her leadership is expected to further strengthen DBS’s role as a pioneer in sustainable finance and contribute significantly to regional and global climate goals.