Niva Bupa Health Insurance Announces Key Board Changes, Leadership Elevation, and ESOP Grant
Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company's Board of Directors, at its meeting on May 08, 2026, approved the appointment of Mr. Christopher Patrick Carroll and Ms. Siobhan Djihan Moynihan as Additional Non-Executive Directors effective May 15, 2026, elevated Mr. Ankur Kharbanda to Executive Director and Deputy CEO, granted 12,251,268 ESOPs at ₹72.45 per option under ESOP Scheme 2024, and accepted the resignations of Ms. Penelope Ruth Dudley and Mr. Carlos Antonio Jaureguizar Ruiz-Jarabo as Non-Executive Directors.

*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company 's Board of Directors convened on May 08, 2026, and approved a comprehensive set of leadership and governance changes, including two new director appointments, an internal leadership elevation, a significant ESOP grant, and the acceptance of two director resignations. The board meeting commenced at 04:15 P.M. (IST) and concluded at 05:00 P.M. (IST). All disclosures have been made pursuant to Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, and in accordance with the SEBI Master Circular dated January 30, 2026.
New Appointments to the Board
Based on the recommendation of the Nomination & Remuneration Committee, the Board approved the appointment of Mr. Christopher Patrick Carroll and Ms. Siobhan Djihan Moynihan as Additional Directors in the category of Non-Executive Directors, both effective May 15, 2026. Their appointments are subject to shareholder approval within three months from the date of appointment. Both directors have been confirmed as not debarred from holding directorial office by any order of SEBI or any other authority.
The following table summarises the profiles of the two newly appointed directors:
| Parameter: | Mr. Christopher Patrick Carroll | Ms. Siobhan Djihan Moynihan |
|---|---|---|
| DIN: | 11527069 | 11408509 |
| Role at Bupa: | CEO, Bupa Global, India & UK (since January 1, 2026) | CFO, Bupa Global, India and UK (since 2022) |
| Prior Bupa Role: | CEO, Bupa Insurance UK (January 2025); MD, Bupa Health Insurance Australia (March 2022) | Finance Director, Bupa's UK Insurance business |
| Earlier Experience: | CEO, WS Audiology – Asia Pacific; executive positions at Medibank | Finance Director, Resolution Life Group; Chief Internal Auditor, Coventry Building Society; CFO, LCG plc |
| Education: | Bachelor of Business; Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors | Started career with Deloitte for ten years (UK and Australia) |
| Other Directorships: | — | Non-Executive Director, Resolution Foundation; chairs Wellbeing agenda for Business in the Community |
| Relationship with existing Directors: | Not related to any Director of the Company | Not related to any Director of the Company |
Leadership Elevation: Ankur Kharbanda Appointed Deputy CEO
The Board also approved the elevation of Mr. Ankur Kharbanda, who was serving as Executive Director and Chief Business Officer, to the position of Executive Director and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, effective May 08, 2026. Mr. Kharbanda joined the company in April 2020 and is responsible for Sales & Distribution. He holds a post graduate diploma from FORE School of Management, Delhi, and brings more than two decades of experience in the health insurance space.
ESOP Grant Under ESOP Scheme 2024
The Board approved the grant of 12,251,268 Employee Stock Options to eligible employees under the Niva Bupa Employee Stock Option Plan 2024 (ESOP Scheme 2024), which is in compliance with SEBI (Share Based Employee Benefits and Sweat Equity) Regulations, 2021. Key details of the ESOP grant are as follows:
| Parameter: | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Options Granted: | 12,251,268 |
| Face Value per Share: | ₹10.00 each |
| Grant Price per Option: | ₹72.45 |
| Pricing Basis: | Weighted average price for the month of March 2026 on the stock exchange(s) with highest trading volume |
| Exercise Period: | Maximum four years from the date of vesting of respective options |
| Lock-in Period: | No lock-in period from the date of allotment |
| Scheme Administrator: | Nomination and Remuneration Committee |
The ESOP Scheme 2024 is administered and supervised by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee. Upon exercising options, eligible employees are required to make the payment of exercise money, following which the Company shall proceed with allotment. Shares arising out of the exercise of vested options shall not be subject to any lock-in period from the date of allotment.
Director Resignations
The Board took on record the resignations of Ms. Penelope Ruth Dudley and Mr. Carlos Antonio Jaureguizar Ruiz-Jarabo as Non-Executive Directors of the Company, both effective close of business hours on May 08, 2026. Both directors cited paucity of sufficient time to devote towards the affairs of the Company on account of their other professional commitments as the reason for their resignation.
| Parameter: | Ms. Penelope Ruth Dudley | Mr. Carlos Antonio Jaureguizar Ruiz-Jarabo |
|---|---|---|
| DIN: | 09025006 | 10581062 |
| Designation: | Non-Executive Director | Non-Executive Director |
| Date of Cessation: | Close of business hours, May 08, 2026 | Close of business hours, May 08, 2026 |
| Reason: | Paucity of time due to other professional commitments | Paucity of time due to other professional commitments |
Historical Stock Returns for Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company
| 1 Day | 5 Days | 1 Month | 6 Months | 1 Year | 5 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| +1.56% | +3.79% | +11.59% | +6.92% | +0.32% | +9.82% |
How might the appointment of Bupa Global's CEO and CFO as Non-Executive Directors signal a shift in Bupa's strategic involvement or ownership ambitions in Niva Bupa's India operations?
Could Ankur Kharbanda's elevation to Deputy CEO position him as a potential successor to the current CEO, and what does this mean for Niva Bupa's long-term leadership continuity?
With 12.25 million ESOPs granted at ₹72.45, how might this impact employee retention and talent acquisition in India's increasingly competitive health insurance market?


































