Sampath Kumar VS is an experienced infrastructure and energy finance professional with over 25 years of experience in project finance and advisory across South Asia. His expertise spans the infrastructure, transportation, power and clean energy sectors. He has worked with both international and domestic financial institutions, including Standard Chartered, IDFC and Tata Capital. He currently serves as business head of the Transition Finance Group at Tata Capital, where he leads financing initiatives for emerging cleantech and infrastructure sectors, which include electric mobility, green warehousing, data centres, smart meters and waste-to-energy.
In his current role, he finds the most fulfilment in being able to contribute to tangible economic, social and environmental outcomes through infrastructure and climate finance. “What excites me the most,” he says, “is the opportunity to finance next-generation climate-aligned businesses that are essential to India’s low-carbon transition.” According to Sampath, although capital is available, unlocking it at scale requires strong risk mitigation frameworks that can bridge the gap between investor expectations and the realities of emerging sectors. Focused on ensuring the flow of capital to sectors and projects where it is most needed, Sampath is committed to supporting the broader transition finance objectives of his team and Tata Capital.
He acknowledges that despite the growing momentum around transition finance, significant challenges remain. These include limited track records in newer sectors, evolving regulatory and contractual frameworks and a scarcity of long-term risk capital. Nevertheless, he views the current period of energy transition as one with tremendous opportunities. In his assessment, cost curve reductions in new technologies will make many projects commercially viable. Additionally, he sees India’s transition finance landscape benefiting from increasing policy clarity, blended finance instruments and rising investor interest in sustainability. He believes that enhanced collaboration across stakeholders will be essential to mainstream green investments and effectively channel financing towards building a vibrant and scalable transition finance ecosystem.
Outside of work, he likes to spend time with family and is an avid traveller, with a strong interest in history and culture. He often explores museums and heritage sites. He also enjoys cinema, theatre and reading, particularly biographies and historical narratives. He believes that these interests offer perspective, foster balance and often serve as sources of insight that inform his professional thinking.
