Pocket FM has announced the appointment of Abhilash Padival as chief financial officer. 

He was director - India investment banking and consumer internet, Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Padival will lead Pocket FM's financial foundation as it aims to create AI-powered storytelling and build one of the world's leading entertainment platforms.

Rohan Nayak, co-founder and CEO, Pocket FM, said, "Pocket FM has built one of the most exciting consumer technology companies to emerge from India, redefining storytelling for audiences across the world. As we enter our next phase of growth, strengthening our financial organisation and preparing the business for long-term global scale becomes increasingly important. Abhilash brings a rare combination of investment banking expertise, strategic thinking and operating experience. His perspective will be invaluable as we continue to invest in innovation, expand globally and build enduring value for our creators, customers and stakeholders. We are thrilled to welcome him to the Pocket FM leadership team."

Padival said, “Pocket FM is creating an entirely new category at the intersection of storytelling and artificial intelligence. Its global ambition, relentless pace of innovation, and creator-first ecosystem make this an incredibly exciting time to join. I look forward to partnering with the leadership team to build a world-class finance organisation, support the company’s next phase of growth, and create enduring value for our creators, audiences, employees, and shareholders."

He has also worked with Quess Corp, Altisource, Avendus Capital, and Cyient.