Pravesh Rijal, 34, appointed Chief Data & AI Officer at Cross River Bank, New York

Pravesh Rijal, originally from Biratnagar, has been appointed as the Chief Data & AI Officer at Cross River Bank — one of New York’s most dynamic financial institutions, renowned for its leadership in finance, technology, and innovation.

At just 34 years old, Pravesh Rijal has achieved a coveted place in the C-suite — a rare accomplishment in the hyper-competitive worlds of Wall Street and global banking. His journey from a town in eastern Nepal to the leadership ranks of a major international bank is being celebrated as a milestone for the growing global presence of Nepalese excellence.

Cross River’s decision to create a new Chief Data & AI Officer organization —  represents a bold pivot toward an intelligence-driven future. Entrusting this opportunity to Pravesh Rijal signals confidence in his proven ability to build, scale, and lead world-class financial and Knowledge organizations.

Rijal began his career at Citigroup, where he rose rapidly from Vice President to Senior Vice President in the bank’s Global Modeling Group, working on quantitative portfolio modeling.

At Cross River, he founded and led the Quantitative Strategies organization — building it into a critical engine supporting the bank’s success.

Widely recognized as an expert financial engineer and a visionary leader, Rijal has earned praise across the industry for his ability to found and scale cutting-edge organizations that bridge deep technical expertise with real-world business execution.

Rijal holds a Master’s degree in Financial Engineering from New York University (NYU) — one of the world’s premier programs at the intersection of finance and mathematics — and is currently pursuing a PhD in Finance at the distinguished EDHEC Business School in France.

This blend of elite education, technical depth, and leadership execution places him among a new generation redefining the future of global finance and AI-powered innovation.

Rijal’s journey from Biratnagar to the C-suite of a leading international financial institution reflects not just personal achievement but a larger symbol of Nepal’s emerging global presence.“Nepal’s future leaders are 

Founded in 2008, Cross River Bank has emerged as a global leader at the intersection of regulated banking and advanced technology. The bank powers leading fintechs, platforms, and investment firms across payments, lending, private credit, and embedded finance — redefining the modern financial ecosystem through innovation, compliance, and customer-centricity.