Vibha Padalkar, executive director and chief financial officer of HDFC Standard Life Insurance Company, is said to be the frontrunner for the top job when the board meets on September 12 to appoint its next managing director and CEO after Amitabh Chaudhry resigned on Saturday. “With Chaudhry moving to Axis Bank, Padalkar who is on the board of HDFC Life, will take over as MD and CEO,” said a person familiar with the development.