Atlanta-based credit information provider Equifax Inc. plans to appoint Samir Bhatia as CEO and managing director of its Indian affiliate as soon as the company gets final government approval to launch the new unit. 

Equifax in April received preliminary approval under a 2005 law to operate a credit information company in India. The company is working with prospective joint-venture partners to prepare an application for a permanent license. The unit would be called Equifax Credit Information Services Private Ltd. 

In the meantime, Mr. Bhatia will join Equifax's Mumbai operations. He will assume the leadership role when the company officially launches.

Mr. Bhatia has 24 years of banking and financial services experience, including stints with Citibank, HDFC Bank and Barclays Global Retail and Commercial Banking. 

Equifax officials said his experience as a founding member of HDFC and proficiency in launching units in new markets will be a plus for the India operation.

"Samir brings a combination of a deep understanding of the needs of our banking and financial services customers and an entrepreneurial mindset of building a growth-focused business from the ground up," Trey Loughran, Equifax senior vice president of corporate development who is responsible for India operations, said in a statement.

For more information, visit www.equifax.com. 

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