Spotlight: CXO movement this week (Aug 30-Sept 5)

The week of (Aug 30-Sept 5) saw several CXO movements in the technology sector. Companies such as Flipkart, Unisys, New Relic, Okta, Magenta Mobility, Forcepoint and SBI Life, among others, appointed tech leaders to oversee their IT and digital initiatives. Movements also took place at deeptech startup Ziroh Labs. Here’s a roundup:

Flipkart names Balaji Thiagarajan as CPTO

Walmart-owned Flipkart has appointed Balaji Thiagarajan as its new Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO), marking a renewed push to strengthen its AI and technology backbone. In this role, Thiagarajan will lead AI adoption, modernise the company’s tech architecture, and drive innovation to build a future-ready e-commerce platform. He brings over two decades of leadership experience across global technology companies. Most recently, Thiagarajan was CTO at LendingClub, and has previously held senior roles at Change Healthcare, Uber, Oracle, Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, and Skyhigh Networks. His appointment comes after the exit of Jeyandran Venugopal in February. Thiagarajan, an alumnus of Wharton and Syracuse University, also founded the AI-driven platform Kasu.ai. (Read more)

Unisys appoints Lalithanand Moses as MD of India Global Delivery Centre

U.S.-headquartered IT services and consultancy firm Unisys has named Lalithanand Moses as Vice President and Managing Director of its India Global Delivery Centre in Bengaluru. Reporting to Karl Brandt, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Global Delivery Operations, Moses will oversee delivery operations and drive efficiency across the centre, which is a critical hub for the company’s global business. He brings nearly 25 years of experience, having most recently served as Global Leader of Endpoint Operations in Unisys’ Digital Workplace Solutions unit, where he strengthened service delivery frameworks. Prior to Unisys, he held leadership roles at Genpact and GE, managing client engagements, delivery quality, infrastructure transitions, and end-user computing services across geographies. (Read more)

Ziroh Labs ropes in Vineet Mittal to drive AI infra 

Deeptech startup Ziroh Labs has appointed Vineet Mittal as senior vice president to spearhead its strategic initiatives and global expansion. Mittal, who brings over two decades of experience in enterprise software, AI, and cloud-scale platforms, will focus on scaling Ziroh’s flagship Kompact AI platform and strengthening its presence in sectors such as BFSI, healthcare, public services, and defence. His previous stints include senior roles at Microsoft, BlueTalon, RSA India, and Sun Microsystems. At Microsoft, he served as Principal Group Engineering Manager. Ziroh said his expertise will bolster its R&D, go-to-market strategy, and ecosystem partnerships. (Read more)

Magenta Mobility names Bhavesh Panchal as CTO 

Electric mobility solutions provider Magenta Mobility has appointed Bhavesh Panchal as its Chief Technology Officer (CTO). With over two decades of experience in digital transformation, cloud adoption, AI, and cybersecurity, Panchal will drive the company’s technology strategy, build digital systems aligned with its sustainability goals, and enhance long-term value for partners and clients. He previously held senior roles at VFS Global, Hitachi Consulting, Deloitte, and Mahindra & Mahindra, where he was involved in developing and implementing technology programs across industries and geographies. Panchal holds a B.Sc. in Business Information Technology from the University of Manchester. (Read more)

SBI Life appoints Vishal Bhatia as Chief Information Technology & Digital Officer

SBI Life Insurance has named Vishal Bhatia as its Chief Information Technology & Digital Officer (CIDO), based in Mumbai. With nearly two decades of experience in digital strategy, core banking, and fintech innovation, Bhatia will spearhead the insurer’s IT and digital transformation roadmap to deliver customer-centric, future-ready solutions. Prior to this, he led digital initiatives at Canara Bank, where his work helped the lender secure the MeitY #1 ranking in digital adoption for three consecutive years. He also served as CTO of Kotak Cherry, building a cloud-native DIY investment ecosystem, and played a key role in shaping the IT backbone at IDFC First Bank. His earlier stints include leadership roles at Société Générale and Infosys. 

Okta appoints Mathew Graham as CSO for Asia Pacific

Global identity and access management firm Okta has appointed Mathew Graham as Chief Security Officer (CSO) for its Asia Pacific operations. In his new role, he will spearhead the region’s security strategy, focusing on phishing-resistant authentication, identity governance, and risks tied to emerging technologies like AI. He will further work closely with customers, partners, and industry stakeholders to enhance trust and security across the region. Graham brings more than 20 years of experience in government, cloud, and enterprise software, having held senior security roles at Workday, AWS, and Salesforce. (Read more)

New Relic names Ashok Khurana as India country manager

Observability firm New Relic has appointed Ashok Khurana as its India country manager and senior director of enterprise sales, with a mandate to drive business growth in one of the company’s fastest-expanding markets. Based in Gurugram, Khurana will lead high-performing sales teams, strengthen customer engagement, and expand New Relic’s footprint across key industry verticals. He joins with three decades of experience in software sales and leadership, having previously held senior positions at Google Cloud, Microsoft, Persistent Systems, and, most recently, HashiCorp. Since opening its first India office in Bengaluru in March 2022, New Relic has grown rapidly, with its local team expanding by nearly 400% in 2024. (Read more)

Forcepoint elevates Aman Thareja as Area VP & MD for India & SA

Cybersecurity firm Forcepoint has elevated Aman Thareja to the role of Area Vice President and Managing Director – India & South Asia. In his expanded mandate, Thareja will drive the company’s strategic vision and growth across the region, strengthening its position in data security and cybersecurity innovation. Thareja, who joined Forcepoint in 2023, has played a key role in building customer relationships, leveraging channel ecosystems, and positioning the company as a trusted partner for enterprises, commercial organisations, and government entities. With over two decades of experience, he has previously held senior leadership roles at VMware, Symantec, Cisco, and Wipro, and began his career as an officer in the Indian Navy. 

Dell Technologies appoints Sudharsan Rajagopalan as VP of marketing

Dell Technologies has elevated Sudharsan Rajagopalan to Vice President – Marketing, based in Singapore. In his new role, he will lead Dell’s global marketing strategy with a focus on infrastructure solutions, demand intelligence, and operational excellence. Rajagopalan, who has been with Dell for over 21 years, has spearheaded marketing initiatives across both B2B and B2C segments, driving channel growth, enhancing customer intelligence, and improving global team performance. His leadership has delivered strong business outcomes, including improved marketing revenue contribution, double-digit buyer growth, and enhanced partner ROI. Previously, he led Dell’s APJ & GC Regional Channel Marketing during the Dell-EMC merger, strengthening digital adoption and partner engagement. He began his career in corporate strategy at Honeywell.