Spotlight: CXO movements this week (April 5 – April 11)

The week (April 5-11, 2025) was buzzing with several CXO movements in the tech industry with some of the major appointments in key business positions. India’s largest IT services firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), made important new appointments made new appointment alongside its Q425 results. Other tech firms including Atlas Systems, AuthBridge and Elastic, among others, also made important new appointments. At the same time, non-tech firms like Equitas Small Finance Bank, Bharat Petroleum, Yum! Brands, PNB MetLife India Insurance, and more, appointed new tech executives to lead their IT and digital affairs. Movements also happened in healthcare startups like Clirnet. Here’s the roundup:

Elastic appoints former Snowflake exec to drive APJ growth

Elastic, a company specializing in search-driven solutions, has named Sanjay Deshmukh as the new Vice President for Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) to lead the expansion of its operations in this area. In his role, Deshmukh will be tasked with developing the company's growth strategies across the APJ regions, which encompass Australia, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and India, with a strong focus on customer and partner engagement. Prior to this, he served as the Senior Regional Vice President for ASEAN and India at Snowflake and spent over seven years at VMware in various leadership roles across Southeast and Northeast Asia. Deshmukh has completed an MBA in Sales and Marketing from the Institute of Technology and Management, Mumbai. (Read more)

TCS appoints Aarthi Subramanian as COO

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has named Aarthi Subramanian as Executive Director, President, and COO, effective May 2025, for a five-year term. Subramanian, currently Group Chief Digital Officer at Tata Sons, has been with the Tata Group for over three decades, holding leadership roles including Executive Director and Global Head of Delivery Excellence, Governance and Compliance at TCS. Subramanian also holds several board positions across the Tata Group, including Director roles at Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Capital Limited, Tata AIA Life Insurance Company Ltd, and Infiniti Retail. She holds a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science from the National Institute of Technology, Warangal, and a Master’s degree in Engineering Management from the University of Kansas, USA.

Yum! Brands appoints Manish Jain to lead India technology centre

Yum! Brands, the parent company of KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and Habit Burger & Grill, has named Manish Jain as the new head of its Digital and Technology (D&T) India Global Capability Centre (GCC). In his new position, Jain will oversee the company's GCC operations and shared services in India. Jain brings with him over 20 years of international experience in Global Business Services and Capability Centres. His career spans consulting, consumer goods, and financial services sectors in the United States, Malaysia, and India. Earlier, Jain served as the service director for the Asia-Pacific region and country leader for India at Getronics International. There, he led the shared services hub in India and oversaw customer success across the region. He also played a pivotal role as the founding director of BT Group’s Global Business Services unit in India, where he spent more than a decade expanding operations. (Read more)

Healthtech firm Clirnet appoints Krishna Kumar Banka as CTO

Clirnet Services Pvt Ltd, a digital healthcare solutions provider, has appointed Krishna Kumar Banka as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). In this role, he will oversee the company's technology strategy, emphasizing artificial intelligence across its platforms, including www.doctube.com. Banka brings 27 years of experience in software development and technology leadership, having worked with prominent firms like Synopsys, Cadence, Keysight Technologies, and Capgemini Engineering. He holds two U.S. patents and a registered trade secret, specializing in scalable software development through agile and sustainable practices. Banka has effectively led diverse global engineering teams and has played a key role in cross-functional initiatives that integrate technology and best practices. He is also a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, committed to improving processes and software quality. (Read more)

Atlas Systems appoints Vivek Agarwal to head Risk, Data, and AI business

Atlas Systems has appointed Vivek Agarwal as the head of its Risk Management, Data, and AI division. With over 30 years of experience in technology, analytics, and risk management across sectors like financial services, healthcare, and manufacturing, Agarwal previously served as Managing Director at Equifax, leading product engineering in India. He was also CEO at Dun & Bradstreet Technologies, managing global technology and analytics. His background includes significant roles at Saksoft, Oriflame, and Diageo, focusing on data strategy and operations. Agarwal has worked with startups and established firms across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and North America. In his new role, he will enhance Atlas Systems' data management, AI, and third-party risk management capabilities. (Read more)

AuthBridge appoints Amit Balwani to lead tech and digital affairs

AuthBridge, an Indian authentication technology company on Tuesday announced the appointment of Amit Balwani as Senior Vice President - Technology. With over two decades of experience in modernising technology infrastructures, leading large-scale digital transformations, and driving high-performance engineering teams, Balwani will play a pivotal role in strengthening AuthBridge’s technology vision and innovation. Balwani has held key leadership positions at organizations like Ecom Express, Paytm, Expedia Group, Nagarro, and TCS. His expertise spans AI integration, data engineering, event-driven architectures, and API-first ecosystems. At Paytm, he was instrumental in building conversational platforms, while at Ecom Express, he spearheaded large-scale technology modernization initiatives. Balwani is an alumnus of Jamia Millia Islamia, where he earned his Bachelor’s in Technology. (Read more)

Alvarez & Marsal appoints new Managing Director in India

Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) India, a professional services firm, has appointed Shweta Jha as Managing Director in its Business Transformation Services practice. The move supports the firm’s continued expansion in financial services advisory in India. Jha brings nearly two decades of experience in the financial services sector, where she has worked in both consulting and leadership roles across global firms. She most recently served as Director and Head of Strategy & Corporate Development at Deutsche Bank’s global operations in Mumbai. Her previous experience includes working at Booz & Company (now Strategy&), Accenture, and McKinsey & Company. She has been involved in operational efficiency, cost transformation, digital modernisation, and enterprise-wide technology and data initiatives. She holds an MBA from the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business and a Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras. (Read more)

Nitin Thapliyal Joins DuFlon Industries as GM-IT

Nitin Thapliyal has been appointed General Manager – Information Technology at DuFlon Industries Pvt. Ltd. With nearly 20 years of experience in IT project management, SAP solutions, and digital transformation, he will lead DuFlon’s technology strategy to improve operational efficiency and drive digital innovation. Before joining DuFlon, Nitin held key leadership positions at Trident Group, GreyOrange, Hero MotoCorp, and Havells. His expertise includes SAP application management, IT program leadership, business process optimization, and change management. Nitin has successfully managed large-scale implementations and enterprise transformations, providing businesses with effective digital solutions. His deep understanding of the relationship between manufacturing operations and enterprise IT positions him as a vital asset for DuFlon’s growth and modernization.

Equitas Small Finance Bank appoints a new exec director of technology

Balaji Nuthalapadi has been appointed as Executive Director of Technology & Operations at Equitas Small Finance Bank. With over 28 years of experience at Citi, he brings extensive expertise in operations strategy, digital transformation, and technology leadership in global financial systems. In his new role, he will oversee the bank’s tech-driven operational excellence and innovation initiatives. During his tenure at Citi, Balaji held several key leadership positions, including Managing Director and Head of Citi Solutions Centers in India, as well as Head of Controls Testing Execution. He also served as Managing Director & Head of Operations & Technology for Citi South Asia, significantly contributing to transformation efforts across markets such as India, Singapore, the UK, Europe, and the Philippines.

Akash Shukla to lead the Information Systems at Bharat Petroleum

Akash Shukla has been appointed Chief Manager – Information Systems at Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL). With over 14 years of experience in IT operations, cybersecurity, and digital transformation, he will lead BPCL’s information systems strategy from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Shukla has been instrumental in executing key digital and cybersecurity initiatives, including advanced Manufacturing Execution Systems, Laboratory Information Management Systems, and robust cybersecurity frameworks. He has also driven projects in smart device integration, robotic process automation, the Internet of Things, and extensive wireless infrastructure. His previous roles featured innovations like live-stream remote monitoring and AI-driven IT operations.

Prashant Mohan to lead IT Infrastructure & Security at PNB MetLife India Insurance

Prashant Mohan has been appointed as the Director of IT Infrastructure & Security at PNB MetLife India Insurance. With over 20 years of extensive experience in IT transformation, digital innovation, and enterprise infrastructure, Prashant will direct the company’s IT infrastructure and security strategy, ensuring the establishment of robust and future-ready digital operations. Previously, Prashant held significant positions in major Indian insurance companies and enterprises, including Reliance Nippon Life Insurance, Aviva India, Safexpress and HT Media.