Mr Pathak is Secretary General, FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry), India's largest, oldest and apex Business Chamber established in 1927. FICCI has corporate members as well as associations representing over 2,50,000 entities covering all Indian states, across large, medium and small industry and businesses.

Prior to joining FICCI in March 2023, Mr Pathak had been CEO/MD of large companies in the private sector as well as in the government in various roles involving execution, financing and strategy. During his 19 years in the corporate sector, he was with ICICI, L&T and IDFC, among others. As an IAS officer for 17 years (1990-2007), he served in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. His assignments included Secretary, Public Works Department, MD of the State Industrial Development Corporation, and Director, Institutional Finance.

In 2022, he transited to the non-profit sector as Director & Professor of Practice at Indian School of Public Policy. Mr Pathak is one of the few Indians who have worked across Government, Business and Academia. He started his career in 1986 with 4 years in investment banking with ICICI and HSBC. He has worked in areas related to private equity investing, international dollars into India from global pension funds, smart cities and urban issues, infrastructure project structuring, finance and execution, and public private partnerships. His passions include public policy, cities, infrastructure and finance.

His industry affiliations include, since 2016, membership of G20's B20 Task Force, Co-Chair of BRICS Business Council which he joined in 2012, and Co-Chair, FICCI Transport Infrastructure committee, among others. He has over 40 publications on public policy, cities, infrastructure, and finance.

His extensive international exposure includes an Eisenhower Fellowship (2000) as an emerging young Indian Leader to study cities and infrastructure in the United States, an EU Visitor Program (2003) hosted by the European Commission, and a Chevening Fellowship (2011) on Science and Innovation at the University of Oxford.

Mr. Pathak has an MBA from IIM Calcutta, after graduating from SRCC Delhi. He has an LLB, and also a Diploma in Ornithology from BNHS (Bombay Natural History Society). He was the best all-round officer trainee in his Foundation Course at LBSNAA, Mussoorie in 1990. He has scaled a 6831 m peak in the Himalayas and has trekked extensively. He is a dedicated environmentalist and wildlifer, and is committed to sustainable development.