Spotlight: CXO movements this week (April 27 to May 3)

The week of April 27 to May 4, 2024, was filled with significant CXO movements in the tech industry, as several major appointments were announced for key business positions. Global technology firms such as Wipro, ANSR, UiPath, Freshworks, Sabre Corporation, and Welspun Corp made important announcements regarding technology leaders who will be leading their IT and digital affairs. Here is a roundup:

Ex-Microsoft and Meta executive Raghu Malpani joins UiPath as CTO

UiPath, an enterprise automation and artificial intelligence (AI) software company, has appointed technology veteran Raghu Malpani as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Malpani, who previously worked at Microsoft and Meta, will report directly to Daniel Dines, the Chief Innovation Officer and Executive Chairman of UiPath. In his new role, Malpani will lead the company's engineering teams, bringing a wealth of experience in managing large distribution systems and supporting product delivery. Before joining UiPath, Malpani, a graduate of the National Institute of Technology in Karnataka, India, served as Corporate Vice President for the Microsoft 365 Application and Data Platform, and the global Decisions Platform team at Meta, focusing on building experimentation, personalization, and market intelligence platforms across all product areas at Facebook. (Read more)

Wipro promotes Hari Shetty to Chief Strategist role

IT services firm Wipro has appointed Hari Shetty as the Chief Strategist and Sales Excellence Officer. Shetty, a Wipro veteran, has been elevated from his previous position where he served as the technology platform, products, and gaming business division lead. He has experience across domains such as client engagement, strategy development, execution, and profit and loss oversight. Shetty has also been the head of digital for the consumer business, leading digital transformation-based initiatives and establishing the retail and distribution vertical, one of the largest within the organization. Shetty, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), holds a multi-disciplinary educational background with degrees in computer science & engineering (B.E), management (M.Tech), finance (CFA), and law (LLB). (Read more)

Ashish Kasi joins travel tech firm Sabre in India to drive digital growth

Travel technology company Sabre Corporation has announced the appointment of Ashish Kasi as Vice President of Platform Engineering for the check-in and fulfilment portfolio in India. In his new role, he will be based out of Bengaluru and drive the company’s various technology and digital initiatives. Most recently, he served as the VP and GM of India for Conviva, specializing in online video optimization and analytics. Kasi has also held leadership positions at [24]7.ai, Capillary Technologies, and Yahoo, among others. Kasi, an engineering graduate from Bangalore University, who also holds a master’s in computer science from Stony Brook University, New York, has also mentored several start-ups and NGOs in the education and health-tech space. (Read more)

Freshworks appoints Dennis Woodside as CEO, Girish Mathrubootham transitions to new role

US-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) firm Freshworks has announced that its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Girish Mathrubootham will transition to the role of Executive Chairman. Meanwhile, Dennis Woodside, who has been the President since September 2022, has been appointed as the new CEO. Woodside's previous experience includes serving as the Chief Operating Officer of Dropbox, where he played a key role in significant revenue growth and a successful IPO. He also held various sales and strategy leadership positions at Google, including serving as the CEO of Motorola Mobility after Google acquired the company in 2012. He also served on the Board of ServiceNow for more than four years. Mathrubootham will now have more time to focus on the long-term product vision, innovation, and AI strategy, as well as dedicate more time to working with the product teams in India, engaging with customers globally, and maintaining relationships with external stakeholders. (Read more)

Swapnil Jugade joins Welspun Corp as CIO

Swapnil Jugade has been appointed as Chief Information Officer — IT and Digital at Welspun Corp Limited, an Indian multinational manufacturer of large-diameter pipes. In his new role, Jugade will drive the company’s digitisation initiative. He will lead the effective implementation of IT and Digital roadmap with plant automation projects for various units, as per his LinkedIn profile. Jugade comes from Revent Engineering Group, a precision machinery company, where he was driving information technology and infrastructure. With over 25 years of professional experience and expertise in solving complex business problems using data and analysis and carrying out various business process transformation drives such as ERP and IT automation, Jugade has held various IT leadership roles in organisations such as Godrej & Boyce, Schneider Electric, Cummins in India and the USA, C&S Electric, and Yokohama Off-Highway Tires. (Read more)

ANSR appoints Kirk Ball as Group Chief Information Officer

US-based global capability center (GCC) consulting firm ANSR, which has a significant presence in Bengaluru, has announced the appointment of Kirk Ball as its new Group Chief Information Officer (CIO). With over three decades of experience in technology leadership and innovation, Ball brings a wealth of expertise to his new role. Ball joined ANSR from Giant Eagle, an American supermarket chain, where he was the CIO. Kirk has also served in technology leadership positions with companies like Kroger and Christ Hospital Health Network. Kirk has consistently delivered innovative and sustainable outcomes amidst volatile economic market cycles and digital transformations. He will also serve as a trusted advisor and partner to the company’s customers, guiding them in determining functions which are best suited for the GCC and providing insights on their transformation blueprint. (Read more)

Cloud-based tech firm Amagi appoints Richard Perkett as Chief Product Officer

Amagi, a cloud-based technology company specializing in broadcast and connected TV services, has named Richard Perkett as its new Chief Product Officer (CPO). In his new role, Perkett will guide Amagi’s product strategy with a keen eye on meeting customers’ needs and goals. He will closely examine their challenges and requirements to ensure Amagi’s solutions hit the mark. With over 25 years of experience in product management, marketing, engineering, and user experience (UX), Perkett brings a wealth of knowledge to Amagi, particularly in developing SaaS-centric product strategies across various industries. His leadership is expected to enhance Amagi’s ability to create offerings that truly resonate with customers, making their products indispensable tools for progress. (Read more)

Fujitsu Asia Pacific promotes Ker Yang Tong to Chief Technology Officer

Fujitsu Asia Pacific has promoted Ker Yang Tong to CTO. Ker Yang has worked with Fujitsu Asia for the past decade and was previously the Head of Technology and Innovation for APAC while also holding the CTO role for the ASEAN region at the company. He is a solutions-driven professional with extensive experience in IT-managed services and complex infrastructure project management for Asia Regions. He is certified in ITIL V3 Foundation, adept at adopting best practices in IT Service Management, and has vast exposure in cloud-managed hosting delivery and operations in the Asia Region.