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saurav ghosh

@sauravghosh

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Head of Data Science delivering AI/ML-driven credit decisioning and risk models for large-scale lending.

India

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What I'm looking for

I seek senior leadership roles where I can lead AI/ML strategy for credit risk, build scalable model governance and MLOps, and drive measurable lending business impact.

I am a Head of Data Science with 14+ years of global experience building AI/ML-driven credit decisioning systems across consumer and MSME lending. I specialize in PD scorecards, behavioral risk models, LGD/EAD frameworks, ECL engines, and Early Warning Systems for unsecured portfolios.

I have led and scaled data science teams at BharatPe and Paytm, partnering with CXOs and Credit Risk leaders to translate model insights into cut-offs, pricing, and risk appetite. I rebuilt MSME and consumer application scorecards using bureau and alternate data, improving discrimination, stability, and portfolio performance.

My work includes deploying GenAI for KYC, document intelligence, and workflow automation, driving operational savings and faster onboarding, plus building fraud detection, propensity, and uplift models that materially improved revenue and reduced losses. I have implemented model governance, monitoring, and MLOps practices to improve robustness and audit readiness.

I bring cross-functional collaboration experience with Product, Growth, Sales, and Marketing, strong experience in model validation and IFRS9/ECL frameworks, and a track record of delivering measurable business impact through rigorous experimentation and governance.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Head of Data Science

Current

Bharatpe

May 2024 - Present (1 year 10 months)

Led AI/ML vision and roadmap across five business verticals, managing a 9-member team and rebuilding MSME PD scorecards to improve risk discrimination ~10%, supporting ~₹500 Cr/month MSME lending and delivering GenAI-driven KYC automation that saved ~₹3M annually.

PD Scorecards Reject Inference GenAI Fraud Detection Model Governance Python Pyspark MLOps Model Monitoring

Deputy General Manager

Paytm

Jan 2022 - Apr 2024 (2 years 3 months)

Designed and deployed application PD scorecards and behavioural PD models supporting underwriting for ₹1,500 Cr/month personal loans and ₹8,000 Cr/month Postpaid, improving model stability ~5% and performance ~7% while establishing unified model governance and ECL engines.

PD Scorecards Behavioural PD LGD EAD Model Governance Python Pyspark

Associate Director

Deloitte

Nov 2017 - Dec 2021 (4 years 1 month)

Led a 15+ member data science practice delivering 50+ RFPs and ML solutions across BFSI and retail, scaling MLOps and Conversational AI offerings to generate ₹50M+ in topline revenue and improving telecom churn models by ~15%.

MLOps Conversational AI Churn Modeling A B Testing Python Machine Learning Client Management

Manager: Data Science

KPMG

Jul 2013 - Nov 2017 (4 years 4 months)

Developed application PD scorecards, early delinquency models, and IFRS 9 staging frameworks to support provisioning and ECL computation, and established validation and monitoring processes for robust model lifecycle management.

PD Scorecards IFRS 9 Validation Python Risk & Analytics

Assistant Manager

MetLife

Oct 2011 - Feb 2013 (1 year 4 months)

Built early risk identification, segmentation, retention, and cross-sell models to support underwriting and actuarial teams, improving proactive risk management and customer lifecycle analytics.