New Delhi, July 31 -- Technology leadership hiring remained active across banking, enterprise software, consulting, manufacturing and digital infrastructure this week, with organisations strengthening their AI, engineering and digital transformation capabilities. Standard Chartered, Freshworks, DRAIPL, Fiat India and Deloitte announced key appointments, while JPMorgan Chase reorganised its technology leadership to embed AI responsibilities across senior executives. Here's a roundup.
Standard Chartered appoints Kavita Kulkarni as CTOO for India and South Asia
Standard Chartered has appointed Kavita Kulkarni as Chief Technology & Operations Officer (CTOO) for India and South Asia, strengthening its technology leadership as the bank accelerates investments in AI, automation and digital banking capabilities. Based in Mumbai, Kulkarni joins the India Country Management Team and will lead the execution of the bank's technology and operations strategy across the region. She joins from Barclays, where she served as Managing Director and Chief Information Officer for Private Banking and Wealth Management, overseeing global technology and operations teams while driving automation and artificial intelligence initiatives. With more than 25 years of experience across India, the UK and the US, Kulkarni has held leadership roles spanning banking, wealth management and enterprise technology. Her appointment reflects the growing importance of technology leadership as banks modernise core platforms, enhance operational resilience and scale AI-led customer experiences.
Freshworks unifies product and technology under Ryan Manning
Nasdaq-listed Freshworks has appointed Ryan Manning as its Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO), bringing product strategy and engineering under a single leadership structure as the company sharpens its focus on AI-powered enterprise software. Manning will join on 10 August and report to Chief Executive Officer Dennis Woodside, succeeding Srini Raghavan, who is leaving the company to pursue an entrepreneurial venture. In his new role, Manning will oversee Freshworks' global product roadmap, engineering organisation and AI strategy across its IT service management and customer experience portfolio. He joins from BMC Helix, where, as Chief Product Officer, he helped shape the company's ServiceOps and agentic AI strategy. Earlier, he played a key role in scaling ServiceNow around its IPO and co-founded CRM platform FreeAgent, later rebranded as Servis.ai. Existing CTO Murali Swaminathan will report to Manning.
DRAIPL appoints Tapan Sharma to lead technology business
Infrastructure engineering company DRAIPL has appointed technology industry veteran Tapan Sharma as Chief Executive Officer of its newly created technology business, marking the company's expansion into digital infrastructure and enterprise technology services. The move signals DRAIPL's strategy to complement its engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) business with capabilities spanning data centres, enterprise digital transformation, systems integration, smart infrastructure and mission-critical technology facilities. Sharma brings more than two decades of experience across organisations including Tech Mahindra, NetApp, Hexagon, NICE Systems and Intergraph, where he led businesses across enterprise technology, smart cities, public safety and government transformation. Under the leadership of Director Hardik Agrawal, DRAIPL aims to combine engineering execution with digital innovation to address the growing demand for technology infrastructure supporting connected enterprises, public infrastructure and data-driven economies.
JPMorgan reshapes AI leadership as enterprise AI scales
JPMorgan Chase has undertaken a significant reorganisation of its technology and AI leadership, underscoring the growing strategic importance of artificial intelligence across global banking. Following the retirement of Chief Data & Analytics Officer Teresa Heitsenrether, the bank redistributed AI responsibilities across multiple senior executives rather than appointing a direct successor. Chief Technology Officer Scot Baldry has taken on expanded oversight of enterprise AI initiatives, while Sumitra Ganesh now leads AI Research. Manoj Sindhwani has assumed broader responsibility for Data and AI Products, and Chief Data Officer Mark Birkhead continues to lead enterprise data strategy. The restructuring reflects how large financial institutions are embedding AI governance, product development and research within existing technology leadership instead of creating standalone AI organisations, as banks move from experimentation to enterprise-scale deployment.
Fiat India names Amit Shukla as Chief Information Officer
Fiat India Automobiles has appointed Amit Shukla as its Chief Information Officer (CIO), strengthening its technology leadership as the automotive industry accelerates investments in connected manufacturing, digital engineering and intelligent mobility. Shukla joins the company with more than two decades of experience leading enterprise technology, digital transformation and manufacturing IT initiatives across sectors. In his new role, he will oversee Fiat India's technology strategy, enterprise applications, cybersecurity, infrastructure and digital innovation agenda. His appointment comes as automotive manufacturers increasingly leverage AI, Industry 4.0 technologies, data analytics and connected factory platforms to improve operational efficiency and supply chain resilience. The move also reflects the sector's broader push towards software-defined manufacturing and digital-first operations as vehicle production becomes increasingly technology-intensive.
Deloitte appoints Guruprasad Ramamoorthy as Chief Technology Officer
Deloitte has appointed Guruprasad Ramamoorthy as its Chief Technology Officer (CTO), reinforcing its technology leadership as enterprises accelerate AI adoption and digital transformation initiatives. In his new role, Ramamoorthy will lead Deloitte's technology vision, innovation strategy and engineering capabilities, with a focus on helping clients modernise technology platforms and adopt emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and cloud computing. His appointment comes at a time when consulting firms are expanding investments in AI, automation and industry-specific digital solutions amid growing enterprise demand for transformation programmes. Ramamoorthy brings extensive experience in enterprise technology, software engineering and digital innovation and is expected to play a key role in strengthening Deloitte's technology-led consulting offerings while driving internal innovation and technology excellence.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from TechCircle.