Microsoft names Aparna Gupta as Global Delivery Center leader

Technology giant Microsoft announced on Tuesday that Aparna Gupta will lead its Global Delivery Center (GDC). In her new role as GDC leader, Gupta will focus on customer innovation and delivery excellence, accelerating cloud growth with top-tier talent, industry depth, and partner ecosystem.
 
Established in Hyderabad in 2005, the GDC has expanded to two more locations (Bengaluru and Noida) and now has a global presence, according to a Microsoft release. Gupta's appointment is part of the Industry Solutions Delivery and the broader Microsoft Customer and Partner Solutions (MCAPS) organization. The GDC includes four Centers of Excellence (CoE) in app innovation, data and Artificial Intelligence, infra and security, and business applications. It also includes functions like partner and delivery management and adoption management.

Puneet Chandok, President of Microsoft India and South Asia, expressed confidence in Gupta's extensive experience and deep knowledge of Microsoft technologies. He believes she will help customers plan and deploy future-ready solutions, especially in the age of AI, and maximize the value of their investment in Microsoft.

Gupta joined Microsoft six years ago as the India lead for Commercial Software Engineering (now ISE). During her time at Microsoft, she established the Customer Success Unit (CSU) as a new segment in MCAPS India, making a positive impact on the business.

Before joining Microsoft, Gupta held the position of  Vice President, Product Development & Managing Director, India at FirstRain Inc. She has over 25 years of industry expertise and extensive Microsoft experience. Prior to her software career, Gupta worked at a biotechnology research lab focusing on protein sequencing and developing a vaccine for Malaria.

Gupta, who holds a Master's degree in Engineering Sciences from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mumbai, has fostered a strong culture for her teams and business outcomes across the Microsoft Cloud. 

She has also been a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, serving as the Executive Sponsor for the Women's ERG Charter and building a diverse team. Most recently, Gupta served as the Customer Success Leader in the India and South Asia Area.

On Monday, OpenAI co-founder and former CEO Sam Altman joined Microsoft as the head of artificial intelligence research, along with former President Greg Brockman and other staff from the ChatGPT maker.