Kathmandu_
The government has appointed new officials to lead Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE), the Nepal Insurance Authority and the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund.
A Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday decided to appoint Pratap Subedi as Chief Executive Officer of NEPSE, Rajan Bikram Thapa as Chairman of the Nepal Insurance Authority, and Pitambar Bhandari as Chief Executive Officer of the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund.
The Cabinet made the appointments based on the recommendations of a selection committee formed by the Ministry of Finance.
Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle handed over the appointment letters and administered the oath of office and secrecy to all three newly appointed officials at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday.
On the occasion, Minister Wagle instructed the three officials to discharge their responsibilities with integrity. He directed Thapa to focus on the development, expansion and credibility of the insurance sector. Similarly, he urged Bhandari to work with commitment toward protecting citizens’ deposits while maintaining the institutional dignity of the Fund.
Pratap Subedi
The newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of NEPSE, Pratap Subedi, has extensive experience in banking and financial management. He has served at Agricultural Development Bank in various senior positions, including Acting Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Credit Officer and Deputy General Manager of the Human Resources and Services Department.
Subedi has experience in credit management, deposit mobilization, digital banking, corporate governance, compliance and administrative management. He has also served as a board member of Neco Insurance and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of a fund management company. He holds a master’s degree in management from Tribhuvan University.
Rajan Bikram Thapa
The newly appointed Chairman of the Nepal Insurance Authority, Rajan Bikram Thapa, has nearly three decades of experience at Nepal Rastra Bank. He was previously serving as Executive Director of the Corporate Planning and Risk Management Department at the central bank. He has held various responsibilities in the Financial Institutions Supervision, Bank Supervision, Regulation and Corporate Planning departments.
Thapa has also served as a board member and coordinator of the Investment Committee of Rastriya Jeevan Beema Company, as well as a board member and coordinator of the Investment Committee of the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund.
He holds an M.Phil. in Management from Tribhuvan University. He also obtained a PhD from Singhania University, India, for research on the impact of corporate governance on risk management in the banking sector. His doctoral degree is currently undergoing equivalency evaluation by Tribhuvan University.
Pitambar Bhandari
Similarly, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund, Pitambar Bhandari, has extensive experience at Nepal Rastra Bank. He served as an Executive Director of the central bank from 2018 to 2025. During his tenure, he worked in the departments of monetary management, financial institution supervision, human resources management, economic research and non-bank financial institution supervision.
Bhandari also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Securities Board of Nepal from December 2025 to May 2026. Earlier, he had served as a board member of the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund from 2019 to 2020.
He holds a master’s degree in international economics from the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom. He also secured the top position while pursuing a master’s degree in economics at Tribhuvan University.
The three appointments place individuals with extensive banking and financial-sector experience at the helm of key institutions responsible for Nepal’s capital market, insurance sector and deposit protection system.