Spotlight: CXO movements this week (April 13 - April 19)

The week of April 13-19, 2024, was buzzing with high-profile movements among CXOs in the tech industry. Non-technology firms like Exide Energy and Varroc hired new CIOs/CTOs to spearhead their technology and digital initiatives. Additionally, organizations such as the National Payments Corporation of India and the Indian Register of Shipping appointed new digital leaders. Sabre Corporation, a travel technology company, and NPST, a digital banking solutions provider, also brought on new executive and independent directors to drive their growth strategies. In the edtech sector, Byju's saw founder Byju Raveendran return to the helm after a four-years. Here's a roundup:

Exide Energy appoints new CIO

Battery storage and solutions company Exide Energy has appointed Karthick Raja S as the chief information officer (CIO). Raja announced his LinkedIn profile, noting that he will be involved with the digital innovation efforts at the Exide Industries subsidiary. His last held role was that of CIO of Orient Cement under the CK Birla Group banner. In the role, Raja led the complete portfolio of digital technologies, cybersecurity, enterprise applications, infrastructure, and manufacturing IT. Before that, he worked with companies such as Vedanta, Maruti Suzuki, and Baxter. Raja is an alumna of Anna University and the Great Lakes Institute of Management. (Read more)

Indian Register of Shipping names Rabindra Sah as CTO

The Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) has appointed Rabindra Sah as its Chief Technology Officer (CTO). In this new role, Sah will be responsible for overseeing IRS's technical developments and projects aimed at enhancing the company's services in the port and shipping industry. With over 20 years of experience in the marine sector, Sah brings a wealth of knowledge in technology and digital transformation to his position as CTO. His appointment reflects IRS's commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to meet the evolving needs of the marine industry. As CTO, Sah will lead technical advancements and digitization initiatives across IRS's operations, including vessel classification, inspection, and certification services. It is expected that under his guidance, IRS's procedures will become more precise, transparent, and efficient, delivering benefits to stakeholders in the port and shipping industry.

Fritz Abraham has been appointed CTO of Varroc

Fritz Abraham has been appointed as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for Varroc, a Tier-1 automotive lighting manufacturer in India, effective immediately. In his new role, Abraham will play a crucial part in shaping the company's technological vision, driving innovation, and enhancing its competitive edge. Abraham's primary responsibilities will include developing a technological strategy and plan for optimizing the product portfolio, streamlining processes, and increasing technical customer engagement. He will be reporting directly to Arjun Jain, the CEO of Varroc. With over 20 years of experience in the automotive industry, Abraham brings a wealth of knowledge to his new position. He has previously worked with renowned companies such as American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM), Magna Steyr Engineering AG & Co. KG, and Siemens PSE. Before joining Varroc, Abraham served as the Senior Director of Engineering Europe at Magna Powertrain GmbH & Co. KG.

Byju's India CEO Arjun Mohan steps down, Raveendran returns to helm

Arjun Mohan, the Chief Executive Officer for India operations at Byju's, resigned from the edtech startup about six months after taking the role. This departure leaves founder Byju Raveendran to return to the helm after four years. The company said that Byju Raveendran will now take a more hands-on approach in spearheading the daily operations of the company, with Mohan transitioning to an external advisory role. Mohan will lend his deep edtech expertise to the company and its founders during this transformation phase. Over the past four years, Raveendran has primarily focused on strategic aspects such as raising capital and driving global expansion. (Read more)

NPCI names Benjamin Ambrose as the Chief Information Security Officer

Benjamin Ambrose has been appointed as the new Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). With a career in information and cybersecurity spanning more than twenty years, Benjamin brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his new role. Having worked with companies such as Wipro in India and the USA, Citibank in Singapore, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Singapore, Benjamin has developed his skills in addressing various cybersecurity challenges. His background includes leading global security teams, developing effective strategies, ensuring alignment with business goals, ensuring compliance with regulations, and promoting secure cloud adoption. In his new role at NPCI, Benjamin Ambrose is set to strengthen the organization's cybersecurity infrastructure, safeguarding the security and reliability of its digital operations. His appointment highlights NPCI's dedication to enhancing its cybersecurity defences and promoting innovation in the ever-changing landscape of digital payments.

Sabre ropes in Rajiv Bhatia to lead Asia Pacific operations

US-based travel technology company Sabre Corporation has appointed industry veteran Rajiv Bhatia to advance its growth strategy in Asia Pacific. In India, the company has a Global Capability Center (GCC) in Bengaluru with over 1500 employees working on cutting-edge technologies. Bhatia, formerly of Bird Group, joins as the executive director of APAC market expansion and will be instrumental in expanding Sabre’s footprint in key growth markets, including India, one of the world’s fastest-growing travel marketplaces. With extensive experience in the travel space, Rajiv brings a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record of success to Sabre’s dynamic, customer-centric team. He began his career working for Gulf Air and Thai Airways International, and most recently served as the chief commercial officer of Bird Group’s India GDS business for 16 years. (Read more)

NPST appoints veteran banker Ram Rastogi as Independent Director

Digital banking and payments technology solutions provider NPST has named Ram Rastogi as an Additional Director in the Non-Executive Independent category of the company. With over thirty years of experience in banking and digital payments, Rastogi will contribute significantly to NPST's strategic growth initiatives. Rastogi currently serves as the Chairman of the FinTech Association for Consumer Empowerment (FACE), an organisation dedicated to advocating for the interests of Consumer Lending FinTech companies. Before his current role, Rastogi held key positions at the State Bank of India, overseeing Strategy, Business Development, ATMs, Debit Cards, and Emerging Payment Systems. Notably, his tenure at the National Payments Corporation of India (2011-2017) saw him play a pivotal role in driving the development of digital and real-time payment systems, including the Immediate Payments Service (IMPS), Unified Payments Interface (UPI), and Bharat Bill Payments System (BBPS), among others. (Read more)

InfoVision ropes in Radhika Venkatraman to its advisory board

InfoVision Inc. has appointed Radhika Venkatraman to its Advisory Board, where she is expected to drive innovation and expansion within the executive team. Venkatraman has had a successful career, holding significant roles at Credit Suisse and Verizon. She is highly respected for her proactive leadership in technology-driven transformations. Her expertise includes AI, machine learning, fair AI practices, telecom networks, data strategy, and cloud platforms, allowing her to elevate multi-billion-dollar corporations to new levels of success. She has been appointed on the boards of TM Forum, LiveEarth, Brightspeed, and the IIT Bombay Heritage Foundation. Leading AI firms, such as Writer and Fiddler AI, seek her strategic counsel.