T.V. Avinash Kumar
Chief Executive Officer,
Al Jaleed Investment International SPC, Sultanate of Oman
With more than three decades of distinguished experience spanning multiple countries, T.V. Avinash Kumar stands out as a dynamic and accomplished leader in international banking and financial services. Currently at the helm of Al Jadeed Investments International SPC in the Sultanate of Oman, he brings a unique fusion of strategic foresight, operational excellence, and global financial acumen. From humble beginnings in Kerala, India to executive leadership roles across the United States, Malaysia, India, and Oman, Mr. Avinash’s career is a compelling narrative of ambition, perseverance, and transformative leadership.
Born in 1970 in Ernakulam city, Kerala, and raised in Karukutty, Angamaly, Avinash Kumar grew up in a modest household nurtured by his father, T.R. Vijayakumar, a private sector employee, and his late mother, Ambika Vijayakumar, a dedicated homemaker. Demonstrating a strong academic orientation from an early age, he went on to earn a Master of Science degree from Sacred Heart College under Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam, followed by an MBA from the National Institute of Management, Mumbai, establishing a solid academic foundation for a distinguished career in finance.
Avinash Kumar began his professional journey with Indian Customs in 1993. However, it was his transition to the State Bank of India (SBI) in 1994 as a Probationary Officer in Bangalore that truly marked the beginning of an illustrious banking career. Over the next two decades at SBI, he held several key positions across diverse domains, including Retail Banking, Credit Management, Financial Advisory Services, Strategic Planning, and Business Development—each contributing to his growth as a multifaceted banking professional.
From 2004 to 2008, Mr. Avinash led the SBI Distribution Channel in Kerala for SBI Mutual Fund, serving as Chief Manager and Nodal Officer of SBI Funda Management Pvt Ltd. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing training and development initiatives for the SBI team while driving end-to-end operations and sales through the bank’s extensive network. His strategic focus on channel development contributed significantly to consistent business growth. Mr. Avinash conducted numerous training sessions on mutual fund products, transforming a modest seven-member team into a robust force of approximately 800 AMFI (Association of Mutual Funds in India) certified employees—empowering them to effectively manage sales and distribution of mutual fund products across SBI branches.
Mr. Avinash consistently achieved and surpassed business targets, earning national recognition for his outstanding performance. Under his leadership, the SBI Kerala channel emerged as the top performer in four New Fund Offers, a testament to his strategic execution and team development. His exceptional contributions were further acknowledged when he was named the Best Nodal Officer in India for three consecutive years. In 2009, he was appointed as the Regional Head of SBI Mutual Fund for Kerala State Operations, in addition to serving as the Head of the Investor Service Centre in Kochi.
Mr. Avinash Kumar later transitioned back to mainstream banking, taking charge as branch head at SBI’s Althara Junction and Pattom branches in Thiruvananthapuram. During his tenure, he was instrumental in acquiring high-profile clients, most notably securing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) account—significantly strengthening the bank’s institutional portfolio in the region. He transformed both the branches into modern banking facility centers, offering best-in-class services.
In 2014, following his promotion to Assistant General Manager, Mr. Avinash Kumar played a key role in SBI’s flagship motivational training program, Aarohan. That same year marked a significant international milestone in his career when he was appointed as vice president of SBI (California), based in the United States. During his tenure in the Fremont and San Jose branches in California, Mr. Avinash Kumar led remarkable turnarounds—reviving underperforming and loss-making branches into profitable centers. He substantially expanded both deposit and credit portfolios, and, under his leadership, the San Jose Branch was recognized as the Best Performing Branch of SBI California for the year 2017–18.
Mr. Avinash Kumar returned to India in 2018, where he served as Assistant General Manager (SME) at SBI’s Local Head Office in Bangalore. He was subsequently appointed as Regional Manager, overseeing 35 city branches across Bangalore. His strategic leadership in areas such as credit committee approvals, digital banking advancement, regulatory compliance, and profit maximization made a significant and lasting impact on the operational excellence of the region.
After completing 25 years of distinguished service, Mr. Avinash Kumar opted for voluntary retirement from SBI in 2019. In September of the same year, he took on the role of General Manager at Al Jadeed Exchange LLC, Oman. Under his leadership, the organization successfully navigated operational challenges and re-established its competitive position in the market. Mr. Avinash Kumar implemented data-driven strategies to optimize performance and enhance profitability while also fostering a culture of employee well-being and continuous growth. He served with distinction in this role until November 2023.
In July 2020, the Board of Al Jadeed entrusted Mr. Avinash Kumar with a concurrent role as Chief Executive Officer of Al Jaleed Investment International SPC (AJI). Under his leadership, AJI made a significant strategic move in 2022 by acquiring an 80% stake in a Malaysian company, Horizon Remit SDN BHD, Malaysia. Mr. Avinash Kumar also briefly served as the Acting CEO of that company, where he played a key role in repositioning the company as a competitive player in the international remittance market. Today, he leads a high-performing team of professionals and oversees both domestic and international financial investments for the group. Additionally, he serves as Financial Consultant to the Board of Al Jadeed Group, contributing to the development and execution of the group’s strategic vision for regional and global expansion.
In January 2024, Mr. Avinash Kumar further expanded his professional portfolio by taking on another concurrent role as Chief Financial Officer at Saasvaap Inc., a technology-driven enterprise based in Santa Clara, California. His appointment reflects a strategic foray into the realm of tech-enabled finance. Saasvaap, led by his younger and only brother, Arun Kumar—founder and CEO—has a growing global footprint, with operations spanning USA, Europe, Australia, and India.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Mr. Avinash Kumar is deeply passionate about theater and literature. He actively engages in acting and is an avid reader with a broad intellectual appetite. He is married to Sumini, and together they have two accomplished daughters. Their elder daughter, Aavani , works as an accountant at Najed Al Ahlia in Muscat and is married to Rakesh Sivan, the internal auditor at Al Jadeed Exchange. The couple is blessed with a daughter, Aaradhya Rakesh. Dr. Pournami, the younger daughter of Mr. Avinash & Mrs. Sumini, is a medical graduate from the National University of Science and Technology, Oman, and is currently interning at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital.
Mr. Avinash Kumar’s professional odyssey stands as a masterclass in perseverance, strategic foresight, and transformative leadership. With a legacy that spans continents and encompasses every dimension of banking and finance, he continues to inspire a new generation of professionals. Whether steering billion-dollar portfolios or mentoring teams across borders, Mr. Avinash exemplifies leadership rooted in vision, humility, and purpose—leaving an indelible mark on every institution he serves.
Contact Information
Oman : +968 99102406
