Spotlight: CXO movements this week (June 15-21)

The week of June 15-21, saw several CXO movements in the technology industry. Global technology firms like NTT Data, PayPal, and IBS Software made important announcements regarding key business positions. Movements also occurred in non-IT firms such as ECU Worldwide and Canara Robeco Asset Management. Here's the roundup:

NTT DATA Appoints Abhijit Dubey as CEO ex-Japan

Technology services company NTT Data named Abhijit Dubey as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of its business outside Japan. Dubey replaces Kazuhiro Nishihata, while Yo Honma will remain as the President and CEO, representative director of NTT DATA Group Corporation. In his new role, Dubey will lead 150,000 employees worldwide.

Dubey's appointment follows the finalisation of the merger between NTT DATA and NTT Ltd., forming a business of over $30 billion operating under the NTT DATA name. He previously served as CEO of NTT Ltd. An industry veteran, Dubey joined NTT in 2021 from the global advisory firm McKinsey & Company, where he spent over 20 years launching and spearheading McKinsey's global cloud computing efforts. Dubey is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, holding a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a master's from Stanford University. (Read more)

PayPal Hires Walmart Exec as Chief Technology Officer

PayPal has appointed Srini Venkatesan, the former head of Walmart's US Omni Platforms and Tech organisation, as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Venkatesan will succeed PayPal's current CTO, Archie Deskus, who has chosen to leave PayPal, the company said in a statement.

In his role as CTO at PayPal, Venkatesan will lead the development and implementation of analytics and data science, AI and machine learning (ML), information security, infrastructure operations, and product engineering, according to the PayPal press release.

Before joining Walmart, Venkatesan led a team that developed platforms, features, and capabilities to support the retailer's global operations. He also oversaw display and video ad technology at Yahoo, led product and technology teams at eBay, and served as CTO at StubHub and Marketo, according to the release.

ECU Worldwide Appoints Rajneesh Garg as CIO

ECU Worldwide, a wholly-owned global subsidiary of Allcargo Logistics, named Rajneesh Garg as Chief Information Officer (CIO). In this role, Garg will spearhead and oversee technology transformation initiatives in ECU Worldwide and drive their implementation, rollout, and adoption, working closely with the IT group shared services organization. He will report to Kapil Mahajan, Global Chief Information Officer of Allcargo Group, and will be based at the Mumbai Headquarters.

Garg brings over two decades of leadership experience across multiple sectors, including BFSI, travel and hospitality, manufacturing, energy resources, and retail. He worked with Capgemini as Vice President of Information Technology and played a key role in overseeing regional delivery and growth for consumer products and retail accounts in the Nordic region. A postgraduate in computer science from Moscow State University, Russia, he also worked with Tata Consultancy Services for more than two decades in senior leadership roles.

IBS Software Appoints Former Microsoft Exec as CEO

Software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions provider IBS Software announced the appointment of Somit Goyal as its new CEO. Goyal succeeds Anand Krishnan, who served as CEO of IBS Software since 2018. He will report directly to IBS Software Executive Chairman V K Mathews.

Goyal brings a wealth of experience in the enterprise software sector, having held leadership roles at globally renowned companies such as Microsoft, SAP, Oracle, and AOL. During his tenure at Microsoft, Goyal held various leadership roles across strategy, operations, sales, and customer success. Most recently, he served as President and COO of Pluralsight, a SaaS company, overseeing product, engineering, and GTM functions. (Read more)

Deepesh Gosavi Becomes CTO of Canara Robeco Asset Management

Deepesh Gosavi has been appointed CTO at Canara Robeco Asset Management Co Ltd. He will oversee the company's IT strategy, budgeting, hybrid cloud infrastructure, data analytics, and related projects in his new role.

With over two decades of industry experience, Gosavi previously served as Head of IT and Office Services within the same company. Before joining Canara Robeco Asset Management Co Ltd, he held key positions such as Senior Manager of Systems at DBS Cholamandalam Asset Management, System Administrator at IDFC, and Senior Engineer for Network Solutions. Gosavi began as Head of IT with Canara Robeco Asset Management Co Ltd in 2007. He holds an MBA in IT and Marketing from Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology (SMU) and a Diploma in Industrial Electronics from Shriram Polytechnic College, Thane.

Arjun Vaidyanathan Becomes Group Head of Transformation at One 97 Communications

Arjun Vaidyanathan has taken on the role of Group Head of Transformation at One 97 Communications, following his tenure as Chief Operating Officer and Partner at KPMG India. Throughout his career, Vaidyanathan has gained diverse experience across organisations like JP Morgan/ABN AMRO, Amadeus Limited, Axis Risk Consulting, Ernst & Young, Royal Bank of Scotland, and Arthur Andersen & Co. 

His background includes strategic roles in finance, consulting, and risk management, showcasing expertise in driving organisational change and operational excellence. In his new position at One 97 Communications, Vaidyanathan is set to leverage his multifaceted skill set to lead transformative initiatives that enhance operational efficiency and drive strategic growth within the company.