Mahesh Uttamchandani is the Regional Practice Director for Digital Transformation in East Asia & the Pacific (EAP) and South Asia Region (SAR). In this capacity, he oversees the World Bank’s lending, advisory, and knowledge programs in the area of digital transformation across all EAP and SAR countries. He is also a member of the Regional Leadership Teams for both EAP and SAR and the Global Leadership Team for the Digital Vice-Presidency.

Mr. Uttamchandani joined the World Bank in April 2006 as Senior Counsel in the Legal Vice-Presidency. Since then, he has held various positions in both the World Bank and International Finance Corporation, including Global Manager for Financial Inclusion & Infrastructure. In this role, he led the Bank's efforts to expand access to finance through digital financial services and addressed the financial sector aspects of digital ID and government-to-person digital payments.

Prior to joining the World Bank, Mr. Uttamchandani worked at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London, UK, and as a commercial litigator at a leading law firm in Toronto, Canada. He has taught and lectured at universities around the world and has published extensively, including in key World Bank publications on fintech and as an author in the World Bank’s flagship World Development Report, 2022.