Spotlight: CXO movements this week (Nov 16 - Nov 22)

The week of November 16-22 was filled with significant CXO movements in the tech industry. While tech companies such as HCLSoftware and Eventus Security appointed senior executives for key business positions, non-technology companies like Aditya Birla Housing Finance Limited and Namdev Finvest hired senior IT leaders to steer their technology and digital strategies. Here's a roundup:

HCLSoftware appoints Vikrant Chowdhary as Country Head for India

HCLSoftware, the enterprise software division of HCLTech, has named Vikrant Chowdhary as the senior vice president and country head for India. Based in the Delhi-NCR region, Chowdhary will oversee HCLSoftware’s business in India, focusing on growth and innovation across key sectors, including enterprise, banking and financial services (BFSI), and government.  With over 27 years of leadership experience, Chowdhary has a strong background in scaling technology-driven businesses. His expertise includes go-to-market strategy, team leadership, and enterprise and financial services technology solutions. Last week, the IT firm announced the appointment of Arjun A. Sethi as Chief Growth Officer for Strategic Segments, focusing on government and global private equity. (Read more)

Dominic Vijay Kumar joins Namdev Finvest as Head of Technology

Namdev Finvest, a Rajasthan-based Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) that provides financial services for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), green financing, and small business loans, has appointed Dominic Vijay Kumar as its new President and Head of Technology. Kumar brings over 25 years of experience in the BFSI and NBFC sectors, having previously held senior positions, including roles at Kingfisher Airlines as Senior IT Manager, ART Housing Finance as Chief Technology Officer, and Air Deccan as IT Manager. In his new role, Kumar will spearhead Namdev’s digital transformation initiatives, implement cybersecurity strategies, and oversee IT operations to boost business performance and enhance customer experience. (Read more)

Rajani Menon Pillai joins Aditya Birla Housing Finance as Head — IT

Rajani Menon Pillai has taken on the role of Head of IT PMO at Aditya Birla Housing Finance Limited. Before this, she served as Vice President at RBL Bank, where she was instrumental in driving key initiatives in program management, service delivery, and project governance. With over 15 years of experience, Pillai has held significant positions at renowned organizations such as J.P. Morgan and Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank. Her expertise includes developing project management processes, creating governance frameworks, and overseeing migration projects. Pillai’s commitment to aligning IT strategies with organisational goals has earned her recognition as a respected leader in the industry.

Sterling and Wilson Data Center appoints a new CTO

Ravindra Bapat has joined Sterling and Wilson Data Center as Chief Technology Officer. Bapat has extensive experience in critical infrastructure and data centre solutions, having served in leadership positions at Aggreko, Emerson Network Power, and Sterling & Wilson Limited. In these roles, he led multi-megawatt projects and formulated strategic initiatives throughout the APAC region. His areas of expertise include technology leadership, cloud computing, and business development, which render him an invaluable asset to Sterling and Wilson Data Center.

Sachin Jain joins Eventus to lead technology and business for NA

Eventus Security, a leading provider of Managed Security Services announced the appointment of Sachin Jain as Senior Vice President, Technology and Business Development, North America. In his new role, Sachin brings over 25 years of experience in technology leadership, cybersecurity, cloud, data, and digital transformation to lead this regional charge. Honoured with accolades such as Best CIO under 40, CIO 100, and Top CISO 100, Jain’s leadership will propel Eventus Security’s efforts to deliver cutting-edge solutions tailored to the unique demands of North American organizations.

Standard Chartered appoints its 4th Group Chief Data Officer

Banking giant Standard Chartered announced the appointment of Mohammed Rahim’s promotion as Group Chief Data Officer. Rahim has been designated as the fourth Chief Digital Officer of the bank, which has a history spanning over fifty-five years. Prior to this new role, he served as the Group Head of Data Management & Analytics for corporate and investment banking, accumulating nearly 19 years of experience with the organisation. Announcing the same in a LinkedIn post, Rahim has acknowledged the valuable insights gained from his predecessors, Kamayini Kaul and Pier Luigi Culazzo, as well as from his colleagues, including his most recent supervisor, Graeme Greenaway, along with Tracey McDermott and David Howes. Additionally, he extended special thanks to Shameek Kundu, whom he credited as a mentor who significantly influenced his understanding of data. “Let’s continue to raise our own standards and serve others using data,” the post said. He holds a post-graduation in Artificial Intelligence from the Texas McComb School of Business and a doctorate in management from the European Institute of Management & Technology.