SBI Life Insurance, the insurance arm of the country’s largest lender State Bank of India, today said that Atanu Sen has taken over as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive.

Sen succeeds M.N. Rao, who retired on August 31.

Sen, who joined SBI in 1977 as a probationary officer, had held posts like chief general manager in the Mumbai circle, deputy managing director and chief credit and risk officer for the bank among others in his previous assignments.

Referring to the growth plans, Sen said, “My mandate will be to focus on impacting a profitable growth and extending the reach of life insurance to the farthest corners of the country, thus driving life insurance penetration.”

SBI Life is a joint venture between State Bank of India and BNP Paribas Cardif, in which SBI owns 74 per cent.