Business
CXO Movements: Senior Executive & Leadership Changes You Need to Know
Change, as they say, is inevitable. And so it is with the elevation of these senior executives and industry leaders into positions of eminence. Here’s our roundup of the movers and shakers from the C-Suite you need to be aware of.
- Sanjeev Jain appointed as Chief Operating Officer at Wipro
Past: Global Head of Business Operations Present: Chief Operating Officer
Wipro has named Sanjeev Jain as its new Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately, succeeding Amit Choudhary, who is departing to explore opportunities beyond the company. In his new role, Sanjeev will lead Wipro’s efforts to enhance its client-centric delivery organization, emphasizing sustainable and profitable growth. He will oversee various departments including Global Business Operations, the Chief Information Office, the Chief Information Security Office, and Enterprise Risk Management.
Sanjeev, who joined Wipro in 2023 as the Global Head of Business Operations, brings with him over three decades of experience in leading diverse teams and implementing strategies like Lean Six Sigma and design thinking to drive operational excellence. In the past year, he has overseen Wipro’s talent supply chain and played a crucial role in shaping the company’s AI training and upskilling strategy.
Prior to joining Wipro, Sanjeev held leadership positions at Kyndryl Holdings (formerly IBM), IBM itself, Cognizant, and GE, where he focused on integrating talent supply chains, boosting margins, streamlining processes, and enhancing operational efficiency.
- Bajaj Allianz General Insurance names Vikramjeet Singh as its new Senior President & Chief HR
Past: President and CHRO Present: Sr. President & Chief- HR
Vikramjeet Singh has been appointed as the Senior President and Chief of Human Resources, Investigation & Loss Mitigation, and Administration at Bajaj Allianz General Insurance.
Prior to this role, Singh served as the President and Chief Human Resources Officer for over seven years since December 2016. He brings with him a wealth of experience, having previously worked at Deutsche Bank in various leadership capacities, including as Head of HRBP for Investment Banking Operations. Singh has also held positions at Vodafone and Larsen & Toubro Limited.
Singh is an alumnus of Symbiosis International University and holds a Bachelor of Technology degree from Punjab Technical University.
- Kushal Patel takes over again as Managing Director of Axita Cotton
Past: Non-Executive Director Present: Managing Director
Kushal Patel has taken the helm of Axita Cotton once again as Managing Director, a role he previously held before transitioning to Non-Executive Director. His return to this pivotal role marks a significant milestone for the company as it embarks on a new phase of growth and sustainability.
While Axita Cotton takes pride in its accomplishments, it eagerly anticipates the future under Kushal’s astute leadership. Thanks to his visionary approach, Axita Cotton has a strong market presence today. Kushal is recognized for his dedication to sustainability in the cotton industry. He equally ensures that Axita Cotton fully embraces organic principles.
- Tata Steel appoints Vipin Sharma as Chief Talent Management
Past: Head of Talent Acquisition Present: Chief Talent Management
Tata Steel has appointed Vipin Sharma as Chief Talent Management. In his new capacity, Sharma will oversee talent acquisition, development, performance management, employee experience, benefits, and HR shared services for the company.
Sharma has been with Tata Steel since 2010, serving in various capacities including HR Manager. Previously, he held the position of Head of Talent Acquisition. He is based in Jamshedpur.
Sharma holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rajiv Gandhi Prodyogiki Vishwavidyalaya and is an alumnus of the Management Development Institute, Gurgaon, where he earned his Master’s in Business Administration.
- Kotak Mahindra Bank appoints Ketaki Bhagwati as an independent director on its Board
Past: Chief Investment Officer Present: Independent Director on its Board
Kotak Mahindra Bank has appointed Ketaki Bhagwati as an Independent Director on its Board for a four-year term starting May 18, pending approval from the Bank’s members.
Bhagwati currently serves as an Independent Director and Senior Advisor, offering expertise in strategy, business development, operations, governance, finance, credit, and risk management. She holds the position of Independent Director on the Board of Bayer CropScience (India) Ltd and has previously held board positions at Axis Bank Limited, Omniactive Health Technologies Pvt. Ltd, and served as a Nominee Director of IFC on the Board of Tikona Infinet Pvt. Ltd.
Prior to her board roles, Bhagwati served as the Chief Investment Officer in the Financial Institutions Group at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for nearly twenty-five years. Her focus areas included private equity, mergers & acquisitions, debt & structured finance, and distressed asset workouts across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. She initiated her career at Credit Rating Information Services of India (CRISIL) in Mumbai.
- CapitaLand India Trust appoints Gauri Shankar Nagabhushanam as CEO
Past: Head of Investments and Chief Financial Officer Present: Chief Executive Officer
Gauri Shankar Nagabhushanam has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer (Designate) of CapitaLand India Trust, effective from May 16, succeeding Sanjeev Dasgupta, the current CEO. Nagabhushanam is set to officially assume the CEO position around August.
As CEO, Nagabhushanam will be tasked with driving the growth of CLINT, which is Asia’s first India-focused property trust listed in Singapore.
Before taking up this role, Nagabhushanam served as CEO of the India Business Park at CapitaLand Investment, bringing with him over 20 years of experience in real estate private equity, fund management, corporate finance, corporate banking, and advisory.
In his most recent position, Nagabhushanam held the roles of Head of Investments and Chief Financial Officer at Ascendas-Firstspace, where he played a key role in establishing and expanding the industrial and logistics platform in India under the joint venture between CapitaLand and Firstspace.
Prior to his tenure at Ascendas-Firstspace, Nagabhushanam worked in Singapore, overseeing Ascendas-Singbridge’s India private funds business. His previous experiences include roles at Deloitte, TAIB Bank, and Samba Financial Group.
- Reckitt names Kanika Kalra as Regional Marketing Director for Health & Nutrition.
Present: Regional Marketing Director
Reckitt, a consumer health and hygiene company, has appointed Kanika Kalra as the Regional Marketing Director for Health & Nutrition in Reckitt – South Asia. Kalra joins Reckitt from McKinsey & Company, bringing over 20 years of diverse experience spanning personal care, beauty, food and beverage, fashion, and E-commerce, among other sectors.
In her role as Regional Marketing Director, Kalra will oversee marketing strategies for Reckitt’s health and nutrition brands across India and other South Asian markets. Prior to McKinsey, Kalra held positions at Snapdeal, Unilever in Personal Care, Pepsico, and GSK Consumer.