PhonePe Appoints Shivnath Thukral as VP—IPO Strategy Gets a Policy Boost

Image Source : Startup Talky

PhonePe, India’s leading digital payments platform, has named Shivnath Thukral as Vice President for Public Policy and Government Affairs, a strategic move as the company gears up for its muchanticipated IPO. The announcement was made on July 15, 2025, positioning Thukral at the helm of PhonePe’s regulatory and policy engagement efforts.

Key Highlights:

Thukral will lead PhonePe’s external relations with policymakers, regulators, and industry bodies.

He joins the leadership team and will work closely with founders Sameer Nigam and Rahul Chari.

His appointment comes as PhonePe accelerates its IPO preparations, announced earlier this year.

Professional Background:

Thukral previously served as Vice President of Public Policy at Meta India, where he led regulatory strategy across platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp.
He has held senior roles at Carnegie India and Essar Group, and is known for his expertise in strategic advocacy and digital policy.
He has also contributed to industry associations such as BIF, USISPF, and PAFI, shaping India’s tech policy landscape.

Strategic Implications:

With increasing scrutiny on fintech regulation, Thukral’s appointment signals PhonePe’s intent to proactively shape policy narratives.
His experience in financial inclusion and digital governance is expected to bolster PhonePe’s positioning in India’s evolving tech ecosystem.
The move is seen as a step toward strengthening institutional trust and ensuring smoother regulatory navigation ahead of listing.

Sources: Moneycontrol, Exchange4Media, Storyboard18.