Spotlight: CXO movement this week (Feb 8-Feb14)

The week of February 8-14 was buzzing with several CXO movements in the tech industry. Technology providers like Salesforce and Okta announced new business appointments, while non-tech firms like Hindalco Industries, Dabur India and Cohizon Life Sciences among others, appointed new leaders to helm their IT and digital affairs. Movements also happened in startups such as Paytm Money. Here’s the roundup:

Salesforce Elevates Arun Parameswaran

Salesforce has promoted Arun Kumar Parameswaran to Executive Vice President and Managing Director of sales and distribution for the South Asia region, effective this month. This strategic appointment leverages strong leadership to drive growth and innovation. Parameswaran shared his excitement for the new role on LinkedIn, stating, “The journey ahead is full of possibilities, and I look forward to driving synergies to unlock new opportunities.” Previously, he served as Senior Vice President and Managing Director at Salesforce.

Shakeel Khan Joins Okta as Country Manager for India

Okta, a US-based cybersecurity firm, has appointed Shakeel Khan as Regional Vice President and Country Manager for India. In his new role, he aims to Okta’s commitment to securing digital identities and expanding its regional presence. With nearly 30 years of cybersecurity experience, Khan will lead the company’s sales operations from Bengaluru. Since its establishment in 2023, Okta India’s team has tripled to over 300 employees, with plans to exceed 500 by 2025. India’s growing developer base and significant IT spending make it a key market for Okta. (Read more)

Amit Joshi joins Hindalco Industries as CISO

Amit Joshi has been named Chief Information Security Officer at Hindalco Industries Limited. Bringing extensive expertise in cybersecurity, digital strategy, and risk management, he will oversee the company's security framework, governance, and compliance initiatives. Previously, Joshi held leadership roles at Adani Enterprises, Inspira Enterprise, and Deloitte UK, leading major cybersecurity transformations and framework developments. His knowledge of OT security and compliance will enhance Hindalco’s cybersecurity posture.

Abhishek Jain appointed Versa Networks’ AVP APAC

Abhishek Jain has been appointed Area Vice President – APAC at Versa Networks. Previously, he served as Area Vice President and Country Head for India and SAARC, where he significantly contributed to enterprise technology sales and business growth. Jain has over 20 years of experience and has held leadership positions at F5 Networks, Aruba, Acceton Technology, and Exclusive Networks, focusing on sales management and cybersecurity solutions.

Dabur India appoints Manas Mehra as Global CIO

Manas Mehra has been appointed as the new Global Chief Information Officer at Dabur India Limited. He brings extensive experience in IT strategy and digital transformation and will lead Dabur’s digital-tech strategy and innovation initiatives. Mehra previously held leadership roles at Gulf Oil, Unilever, and Deloitte, driving large-scale IT transformations and digitization efforts. His expertise will be crucial for advancing Dabur’s digital growth.

Vinod Kumar Joins Paytm Money as CISO

Vinod Kumar G. has been joined as the Chief Information Security Officer at Paytm Money. Formerly the Director and Global Head of Cyber Security Operations and GRC Practices at TMF Group, he oversaw cybersecurity operations and compliance strategies. With a strong background in risk management and IT governance, Kumar has previously held key roles at SBI Card, HCL Technologies, and Motherson Technology Services, enhancing Paytm Money’s security framework.

Navin Nathani Joins Cohizon Life Sciences as Chief Information Officer

Navin Nathani is the new Chief Information Officer at Cohizon Life Sciences (formerly Sajjan India Ltd). With over 20 years of experience across manufacturing, FMCG, and insurance, he has achieved over $45 million in savings through automation and digital solutions, including cloud migration and AI/ML initiatives. Previously, Nathani served as General Manager and Head of IT at Hindalco and has led tech initiatives at General Mills, Blue Star, Deloitte, and Wipro Infotech. He also engages with the community through the Google Local Guides program and mentors emerging talent in technology strategies.