Asia Dialogues
Esteemed Speakers at Asia Dialogues
Forum 2026 | Bengaluru
Dr. Padmakumar Nair
Vice Chancellor Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology
Professor Padmakumar Nair, Vice Chancellor, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology and the founding Dean of Thapar School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, is a passionate researcher, teacher, and scholar in innovation in higher education, leadership development, nanostructured materials, and sustainability. He has more than 55 publications in journals of international repute. He has been cited more than 2900 times in academic journals with a Google Scholar H-factor of 29. Professor Nair has worked both in academia and industry and has a combined experience of more than 38 years in various sectors such as oil & gas (Shell in Amsterdam), education (Netherlands, Denmark, US, Japan, China, and South Korea), consulting (PwC, Japan and the US) and advanced R&D (NL, Japan and US).
Amit Kaushik
Chief Information Officer (CIO) Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited
Amit Kaushik is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (2025–present), overseeing enterprise IT, information security, and data privacy across the organization. He previously served as CISO & Privacy Officer at Zee (2024– 25) and held senior cybersecurity leadership roles within ZEE Technology & Innovation (2022–24), driving robust governance, risk, and privacy frameworks. Before joining Zee, Amit spent over two decades with the Indian Navy (2002–2022), leading mission-critical weapon systems, indigenous software platforms, and enterprise information security initiatives.
Anish Bansal
India Country Head - MNC DBS Bank
Anish Bansal is India Country Head – MNC Coverage at DBS Bank (2024–present), based in Mumbai. With over two decades in corporate and institutional banking, he previously held senior leadership roles at DBS (2019–2024), HDFC Bank (2018–2019), Standard Chartered Bank (2005–2018), and ICICI Bank (2004–2005). An IIM Lucknow alumnus, he specializes in multinational coverage, corporate banking, cross-border corridors, and complex deal execution across cash, trade, FX, and lending.
Anjali Raghuvanshi
Chief People Officer Randstad India and Global Capability Centre
Anjali Raghuvanshi is the Chief People Officer at Randstad India and its Global Capability Centre (2016–present), leading culture, leadership, and digital transformation at scale. Previously, she was Senior HR Business Partner at Randstad India (2013–2016), held progressive HR and L&D leadership roles at Tata Motors (2006–2013), and began her career at Satyam Computer Services (2004–2006). A recognized global capability leader and speaker, she is known for enabling enterprise-wide organizational shifts.
Dr. Anjum Hafeez
Deputy Director, Karnataka State Audit and accounts dept
Dr. Anjum Hafeez is a 2011-batch Karnataka State Services officer and currently serves as Deputy Director, Karnataka State Audit and Accounts Department. With wide administrative experience, she has worked across GST, Municipal Administration, and the Minority Development Corporation (as GM & MD). She also served as Chief Administrative Officer at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Career Development, contributing to governance, financial oversight, and inclusive development initiatives.
Ankit Rastogi
Chief Product Officer Angel One
Ankit Rastogi is the Chief Product Officer at Angel One (2021–present), leading product vision, strategy, and execution across equity, derivatives, commodities, and digital wealth platforms. He has spearheaded one of India’s largest fintech product transformations, migrating millions of users to a data-driven Super App focused on scale, safety, and financial inclusion. Previously, he held senior product leadership roles at MakeMyTrip (2020–21), Cleartrip (2017–20), Stayzilla, and Goibibo (2012–15). He also co-founded IndiaHotelReview.com, later acqui-hired by Goibibo.
Ashwin Sekar
Chief Product & Technology Officer, lnCred
Ashwin Sekar joined InCred in November 2020 as the Head of Tech Products; in April 2022 he was elevated to the position of Chief Product & Technology Officer. Ashwin comes with over 16+ years of experience in developing, launching, and managing products in a fast-paced entrepreneurial tech environment.
Avneet Hora
Strategic HR Leader & Board Member with 25+ Years India Operations Experience
Executive with proven expertise in establishing and scaling India capability centres, talent management strategy and corporate governance. Demonstrated success in building high-performing teams across locations while navigating complex regulatory environments. Brings valuable perspective on human capital management, Indian market dynamics, and strategic workforce planning to corporate boards expanding operations in India.
Chandan Khaitan
Chief Executive Officer Muthoot FinCorp ONE
Chandan Khaitan is the CEO of Muthoot FinCorp ONE and a seasoned leader with 20+ years of experience across FMCG, retail, commerce, and financial services. A Harvard Business School alumnus and Chartered Accountant, he specializes in tech-led businesses and P&L management. He has held leadership roles at Flipkart, Walmart, Reckitt Benckiser, Nestlé India, and Perfetti Van Melle, and was selected among Walmart International’s global high-potential leaders.
Debasis Panigrahi
Chief Human Resources Officer Shriram Properties Ltd
Debasis Panigrahi with over two decades of experience driving contemporary people practices across real estate, IT, manufacturing, and alternate investment sectors in India and overseas. Currently CHRO at Shriram Properties Ltd (Nov 2023–Present), he earlier served as CHRO at Emami Realty Limited (Jan–Nov 2023), Vice President & Head HR at Tata Realty and Infrastructure Ltd (2019–2023), Corporate HR Head at Puravankara Limited (2016–2019), Head HR & OD at Karle Infra Pvt. Ltd. (2010–2016), and People Leadership roles at RMZ Corp (2007–2010) and iNetframe Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (2006–2007).He is known for leading large-scale talent transformations, governance frameworks, digital HR adoption, and culture-led performance initiatives while partnering closely with boards and senior leadership.
Divakar Mysore
CTO, IBM AIOps Services (Sales and Delivery) IBM
Divakar leads large enterprises through strategic application transformation and AI- driven operations in environments where system failure directly impacts revenue, customer trust, and business continuity. As CTO for IBM AIOps Services, he has shaped programs that helped organizations anticipate risk and stabilize complex application ecosystems at global scale. He approaches transformation with a clear understanding of the risks, constraints, and responsibility it demands. Today, Divakar is advancing Zero- Touch Operations through Agentic AI to deliver efficiency, resilience, and responsible autonomy.
Gayathri Mohan
Head of People Relations SAP APAC
Gayathri Mohan is a senior HR leader with 24+ years of experience shaping enterprise people strategy, employee relations, and culture across global organizations. She currently serves as Head of People Relations for SAP APAC, Japan & Greater China (2022–present), overseeing governance across 12 countries. Previously, she held progressive HR leadership roles at Oracle Corporation (2008–2015) and began her career at Tata Consultancy Services (2004–2008).
Gopi Hanumanthappa
Managing Director thyssenkrupp
Gopi Hanumanthappa is Managing Director at ThyssenKrupp Aerospace India (2007– present), bringing over 36 years of multidisciplinary, multicultural leadership experience across aerospace & defence, materials, EPC, and engineering sectors. Previously, he served as Director–Operations at Tyco (2006–2007), General Manager at Hindalco Industries (2004–2006), and Assistant General Manager at Alcan (INDAL) (1989–2003). He is widely recognized for building and scaling high-performance operations across multinational and Indian conglomerates.
Govindraju Kulkarni
Treasury Director Concentrix
Govindraju Kulkarni is a seasoned Global Treasury leader with 22+ years of experience across IT, semiconductors, consulting, and CX industries. He currently serves as Treasury Director at Concentrix (2017–present), leading global cash management, M&A treasury integrations, risk mitigation, and Centres of Excellence across 25+ countries. Previously, he held senior treasury roles at Intel Corporation (2006–2016), and finance leadership positions at HP (2005–2006) and Accenture (2003–2004).
Harish Bijoor
Former VP, Tata Coffee Founder, Harish Bijoor Consults
Harish Bijoor is a distinguished brand and business strategy professional with extensive expertise in sales, marketing, market research, and rural and India-centric marketing. He is the Founder of Harish Bijoor Consults Inc. (2001–present), advising boards and leadership teams as a strategy consultant and executive coach. Previously, he held senior roles at Tata Coffee (1993–2001) and Unilever India (1985–1993). A respected keynote speaker and author, he is known for driving brand transformation, strategic clarity, and market-led growth.
Kaustubh Deshpande
Managing Director, India Centre SAP Fioneer
Kaustubh Deshpande is Managing Director, India Capability Centre at SAP Fioneer, bringing over two decades of corporate and entrepreneurial experience in financial services. He focuses on building a best-in-class global hub for product engineering and consulting. Previously, he has led transformative global capability journeys for firms such as Fidelity, IHS Markit (now S&P Global), and Société Générale. Known for operating at the intersection of business and technology, Kaustubh is passionate about value innovation, entrepreneurial cultures, and elevating customer and employee experiences.
Lokesh Mrig
Head of Quantitative Investments for State Street Investment Management India
In this role, Lokesh leads a team of investment research and solutions professionals at the India Investment Center, working across asset classes to drive the firm’s investment performance and support sales growth. Joined State Street Investment Management India in 2016. Senior Quantitative Equity Researcher with MSCI (Formerly Morgan Stanley Capital International). Quantitative Portfolio Manager with Motilal Oswal Financial Services. Alternative Investment Analyst with Jones Lang Lasalle
Rakesh Tergundi
CTO, Pierian Group
Rakesh Tergundi serves as CTO at Pierian Group, where he leads teams specializing in Agentic AI, RPA, analytics, infrastructure, and enterprise solutions. With over 30 years of experience creating products and solutions for supply chain, finance, and logistics, Rakesh has held executive roles at leading global companies including Motorola, P&G, and Google.
Ramakrishna Srinivasa
CTO of Global Digital Customer Experience Practice, India Capgemini
𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐤𝐢 is a seasoned Enterprise Architect and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) with a strong background in technology strategy, architecture, and innovation. With over 25 years of experience in the field, he has a proven track record of translating CX business strategy into impactful CX technical solutions to drive digital transformation and business growth for clients. He successfully delivered multiple complex CX projects across various industries, viz : Automotive, Retail, Telco, Media, Entertainment, and Financial Services. His ability to balance technical expertise with business acumen makes him a strong differentiator in today's fast-paced technology landscape. Through a collaborative and innovative approach, he is dedicated to helping clients and organizations stay ahead of the curve and achieve their strategic objectives.
Ranganath Kuppur
CEO, Globus
Ranganath Kuppur is the CEO of Globus (2025–present), an e-commerce and retail leader with 20+ years across D2C, B2C, B2B and omni-channel fashion. Previously, he led business and category growth at Globus (2023–2025), was AVP at Bewakoof (2022–2023), Head of Fashion at Trell (2021–2022), VP eCommerce at StarMerx (2019–2021), held buying and merchandising leadership at Inmark Retail (2015–2019), co-founded Bubly Technologies (2012–2015), and built categories at Reliance Trends (2007–2012).
Dr. E. V. Ramana Reddy
IAS IBAB
Dr. E. V. Ramana Reddy, IAS is among Karnataka’s most senior bureaucrats, with 30 years of leadership across agriculture, IT & biotechnology, industries, education, health, and governance. As the first Director of IT & BT, he led landmark platforms like BangaloreIT.com and BangaloreBio (2000–03) and authored India’s first State Organic Farming Policy. Currently Additional Chief Secretary (Electronics, IT, BT & S&T) and to the Chief Minister, he drives innovation initiatives such as Elevate, Global Innovation Alliances, and the globally acclaimed Bengaluru Tech Summit.
Ravikanth Eranki
Senior Talent Acquisition Consultant - Early Careers - APAC Cargill
Ravikanth Eranki is a seasoned talent acquisition leader with over 20 years of experience across the APAC region. He currently leads Early Careers hiring for Cargill APAC, shaping future-ready talent strategies. Earlier, he headed Talent Acquisition for South Asia, scaling Cargill’s largest capability center to 3,000 employees. Ravikanth brings deep expertise in employer branding, diversity hiring, and building agile recruitment frameworks across industries, geographies, and emerging talent segments.
Rejin Surendran
Global CIO Wipro Enterprises Pvt Ltd
Rejin Surendran is Global CIO at Wipro Enterprises Limited (2022–Present). Previously, he led Digital & ERP CoE at The Coca-Cola Company (2019–2022) and spent 13+ years at Unilever (2006–2019). Earlier roles include GE Healthcare (2005–06), Inatech Solutions (2004–05), Nexgenix (2003–04), Triniti Corporation (2002–03) and Ballarpur Industries Limited (1999–2000)
Rency Mathew
Managing Director India & APAC ANZ People Leader Sabre Corporation
Rency is a senior People leader with expertise in HR operations, acquisitions, mergers, divestiture, implementing Global HRIS systems and has a passion for coaching managers, leaders and influencing the organization through effective partnership. She has led multiple HR teams and worked in diverse matrix and global environments. She has a Post-Graduation in Human Resource Management from XLRI, Jamshedpur and has 22 years of extensive experience collaborating with executive teams to analyze, determine and implement HR solutions focused on achieving business results.
Rohit Aradhya
Managing Director & Vice President, Barracuda Networks
Rohit Aradhya is a distinguished technology executive with more than 25 years of leadership in the global cybersecurity industry. Widely recognized for driving organizational growth and building high-performing, innovative teams, he has consistently delivered transformative results across complex, multinational environments. As Managing Director and Vice President at Barracuda Networks, Rohit leads large engineering organizations responsible for advancing a diverse portfolio of security solutions spanning application, network, web, and email protection.
Sameer Nandan
Group Chief Human Resources Officer CIELHR Group
Sameer Nandan M R is a seasoned people, technology, and transformation leader with over 20 years of experience scaling high-growth startups, unicorns, and global technology organizations across cybersecurity, e-commerce, IT/ITeS, EV, manufacturing, and tech sectors. As Group CHRO at CIEL HR Group, he drives HRTech-enabled, data- led operating models that align talent strategy with business growth, positioning HR as a strategic partner for sustainable performance and organizational effectiveness.
Sandeep Singh
Managing Director TATA Hitachi Construction Mchinery Company Limited
Sandeep Singh is the Managing Director of Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Limited, with over two decades of leadership experience across India and Asia-Pacific. He previously served as Executive Officer at Hitachi Construction Machinery (2020–Present), Executive Managing Coordinator at Toyota Motor Asia Pacific Engineering & Manufacturing (2014–2015), and Deputy Managing Director & COO at Toyota Kirloskar Motor (2008–2014), leading regional strategy, operations, and growth.
Sanjay Kumar
MD & CEO Rassens
Sanjay Kumar is the MD & CEO of Rassense Private Limited (since 2023), building India’s largest domestically owned food services enterprise, backed by Spark Capital. Previously, he was MD & CEO of Elior India (2017–2021) and MD & CEO of Altran India (2012–2017). Earlier, he spent 18 years with Royal Dutch Shell (1994–2012) in senior global leadership roles across strategy, downstream business, and brand management.
Sanjeev Kumar Gupta
CEO Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM)
Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Gupta is the CEO of Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), driving Karnataka’s contribution to India’s USD 1 trillion digital economy vision. With 27+ years of experience, he has held leadership roles at Accenture, Microsoft, and IBM, and earlier served in the Indian Statistical Service. An MBA, MPhil, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and Honorary Doctorate recipient, he actively champions GCCs, startups, ESDM, and talent acceleration.
Sathish Rajendren
Executive Managing DirectorIndia & APAC Property & Facilities Management
As the Executive Managing Director for Property & Facilities Management for India & APAC, Sathish Rajendren will drive service innovation and growth, advance asset value, and elevate tenant experiences throughout the region. Partnering with global leadership, he will guide the business into its next phase with strategic leadership with a strong track record of success in dynamic situations. A seasoned leader with over 22 years of experience, Sathish brings an impressive track record of transforming organizations and driving growth across diverse sectors, including occupiers, developers, investors and government entities.
Satish Sundaresan
CTO & Senior VP Lumax World
Satish Sundaresan is the CTO and Senior Vice President LUMAX group, a leading Indian. Automotive Tier-1 component manufacturer. He previously served in diverse executive leadership roles with Robert Bosch, Mercedes-Benz, and Elektrobit – a Continental group subsidiary. Satish is a technocrat and believes India could still become a technology implementation value-adding epicentre for the entire Global Automotive industry.
Satishchandra Doreswamy
Global Head - TCS SovereignSecure Cloud Tata Consultancy Services
Satishchandra Doreswamy is Vice President and Global Head – SovereignSecure Cloud at Tata Consultancy Services, with 30+ years of leadership across cloud, strategy, and large-scale operations. He founded and scaled TCS Enterprise Cloud into a global hybrid/private cloud platform spanning 10 countries. Previously, he was Chief Business Operations Officer at Wipro Limited (2012–2015), leading a 150,000+ delivery organization and launching the $1B ServiceNext platform. Earlier, he spent over two decades at TCS (1990–2011) building multi-billion-dollar infrastructure, applications, and BPO businesses.
Shajai Jacob
MD & CEO ANACITY
Shajai Jacob is the MD & CEO of ANACITY, with 25+ years of leadership across real estate, banking, aviation, FMCG, and retail. Earlier, he held senior roles at ANAROCK (2018–2021), JLL (2011–2018), YES BANK (2007–2011), Kingfisher Airlines (2005–2007), Hindustan Unilever (2004–2005), Barista Coffee (2002–2004), and Shaw Wallace Distilleries (2001–2002), driving brand building, growth strategy, and market expansion.
Dr. Shivananda Koteshwar
Senior Vice President Astera Labs
Dr. Shivananda Koteshwar is a senior technology leader with 30+ years of experience in the semiconductor industry. Currently, he serves as Managing Director and India Site Head at Astera Labs. Previously, he held leadership roles at Synopsys and MediaTek. A strong advocate of education, he is Founder Trustee of Belaloo Trust, mentoring startups and advancing rural skilling initiatives.
Shobha Jagathpal
Managing Director India CISO, Chief Controls Officer Morgan Stanley
Shobha serves as Global Chief Controls Officer for Technology, as part of Cyber, Data, Risk and Resilience. As CCO, Shobha is responsible for strengthening Technology’s control environment, mitigating potential risks, and promoting a culture of compliance. As India CISO, Shobha partners with India business leads to manage cyber controls, govern cyber regulatory requirements, mitigate security risks, and minimize impact from business disrupting threats.
Srini Vudayagiri
President, The Times of India & Head of Brand Capital / Brand Estate Brand Capital, India
Srini Vudayagiri is President, The Times of India, and Head of Brand Capital / Brand Estate (since 2024), leading one of India’s most distinctive brand-led investment platforms. Previously, he headed M&A and Business Development at Murugappa Group (2022–2023). Earlier roles include Partner at Peepul Capital (2010–2022), Director at Unibic Foods (2019–2022), senior leadership at Intel Capital (2000–2006), and investment roles at Actis and SBI Capital Markets.
Swethnisha Panicker
CIO - Enabling Functions Merck Group
Swethnisha Panicker is the CIO – Enabling Functions at Merck Group (2024–present), leading global digitization across finance, HR, procurement, legal, and core functions. Previously, she headed Application Technology at Merck (2021–2024) and held technology leadership roles at Sigma-Aldrich (2014–2017), Tricon Infotech (2012–2017), Larsen & Toubro Infotech (2010–2012), and Thomas Assessments (2007–2008).
Uday Murthy Kandarpa
Managing Director Kyndryl
Uday Murthy Kandarpa is a global technology leader with 26+ years of impact, including Managing Director roles, across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the US, Asia Pacific, and India. He has built and scaled high‑performing, cross‑cultural teams in 30+ countries, delivering measurable outcomes in Global Solutioning, Market Development, Alliances, Delivery, Operations, Consulting, and Client/Vendor Management across Automotive, Banking, Telecom, Aviation, and Healthcare.
Dr. Varadharaju Janardhanan
Chief Human Resources Officer @ Super.Money, A Flipkart Group Company Flipkart
Dr. Varadharaju Janardhanan is a globally recognized HR leader, author, and executive coach with 30+ years of experience shaping people strategy across startups and global enterprises. Currently CHRO at Supermoney (Flipkart Group), he previously held senior HR leadership roles at Flipkart, 24]7.ai, Blue Yonder, LG, and Zoho. He is the author of A Billion Dreams and Be Unique: The Flipkart Way, and an influential voice in HR, culture, and leadership.
Vineet Jawa
Co Founder and Director IDfy
Vineet Jawa is a serial entrepreneur and Co-Founder & Director at IDfy (2011–present), building AI-led risk and fraud solutions at scale. He is also Co-Founder & Board Member at CredRight (2016–present). Previously, he founded FUNL.co (2017–2023) and Gaboli (2009–2023), was Co-Founder & CTO at Lendingkart (2014–2015), and held leadership roles at Tech Mahindra (2005–2009).
Vikram Balakrishna
CTO and Head of Transformation Atos
Vikram Balakrishna is the CTO at Atos Technology Center India and a senior technology and leader with extensive experience in building and scaling transformation initiatives, driving AI-led innovation and enabling enterprise-wide value creation. He works closely with global leadership teams to translate emerging technologies into measurable business impact, with a strong focus on people development, operating model transformation, and future-ready capabilities
Dr. Vinod Nadig
Managing Director Advanced Bionics
Strategic business leader & ENT surgeon with 18+ years of cross-functional expertise in the MedTech and healthcare ecosystem, combining deep clinical knowledge with proven clinical sales leadership and commercial acumen. Experienced in spearheading business development, market expansion, and regional operations for niche, Class III medical devices across India and South Asia. Recognised for building greenfield operations, developing long-term physician engagement models based on clinincal trust, and fostering CXO-level partnerships that drive sustainable growth. Brings strong command over regulatory landscapes, patient-centric solutioning, and consultative sales approaches. Known for nurturing empowered, agile teams through continuous learning, structured enablement, and purpose-driven leadership. Adept at aligning global strategy with regional execution while upholding high standards of compliance, service excellence, and innovation.
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