Most Inspiring CIOs in India 2025

The Chief Information Officer designation has expanded beyond IT infrastructure management in recent years. Organisation competition, adaptation, and leadership in a fast-changing globe are being redefined by technology leadership in cloud modernisation and cybersecurity, AI-driven decision-making, and data-driven growth. The latest issue of TradeFlock Magazine, titled Most Inspiring CIOs in India 2025, features some of the most outstanding CIOs who are redefining the frontiers of innovation, governance, and impact.

This premium issue features CIOs who are purposeful leaders, disruptors, and creators of scalable, secure, and intelligent systems. They defy norms, develop digital cultures, and make technology relevant to business results- quantifiable value and impact. Most Inspiring CIOs in India 2025 embodies the leadership vision of convergence of technology, trust and transformation.

Rangarajan Narasimhan

Chief Information Officer - ASI, Global Hub Leader- Pune, Global Automation Head

Vertiv

Specialising in digital transformation, ERP implementations (QAD), and global IT operations, Rangarajan Narasimhan’s expertise lies in scaling global delivery models and next-generation automation. His leadership philosophy emphasises innovation, a relentless pursuit of excellence, and driving a customer-centric culture to drive sustainable organisational growth and technological resilience across global markets.

Ashu A.

Vice President IT & Cyber Security

Raphe mPhibr

Specialised in Enterprise Security & Risk Governance, aligning technology with business and regulatory needs. Skilled in the Security & Risk Audit Lifecycle, Tech-Audit, Standardisation, Compliance, and the management of global, multicultural teams, Ashu A. is known for driving information security, data privacy, risk management, and governance.

Debashis Sing

CIO

Persistent Systems

With more than 30 years of experience, Debashis Singh has expertise in cloud adoption, enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, and data-driven decision-making. Additionally, he is known for leading cross-functional teams, managing risk, and delivering high-impact IT programs on time and within budget.

Gopi Thangavel

Group Chief Information Officer

Larsen & Toubro

With more than 20 years of experience, Gopi Thangavel’s expertise lies in delivering impactful solutions across diverse sectors, including manufacturing, BFSI, telecom, retail, logistics, ITeS/BPO, ISP, government, defence, healthcare, and oil & petrochemicals, with a global footprint spanning India, Kuwait, and beyond. His USP lies in client-server infrastructure with exceptional communication and relationship-building skills to engage stakeholders at all levels and drive impactful outcomes.

Jayant (Jay) Goyal

CIO

Coforge

Driven by building transformational, user-centric solutions through AI and Zero Trust frameworks. Jayant (Jay) Goyal’s philosophy emphasises innovation, collaboration, and resilience, fostering a culture of teamwork and unwavering trust to drive business value and digital excellence. As a strategic technology leader, he is driving transformation across cybersecurity, data privacy, and Global IT Operations.

Manoj Gautam

CIO and Head of IT

Maruti Suzuki India Limited

Leading digital transformation, AI-driven safety systems, modernisation to achieve MSIL 3.0 goals and emphasising the convergence of technology and ethics to deliver measurable business impact and human-centric safety, Manoj Gautam is known for focusing on use-case driven innovation over trends, emphasising the convergence of technology and ethics to deliver measurable business impact and human-centric safety.

Rucha Nanavati

Chief Digital Transformation Officer

Mahindra and Mahindra Limited [Automotive and Farm Equipment Business]

Leading large-scale digital transformations and technology modernisation across the high-tech, retail, and manufacturing sectors, and architecting Responsible AI frameworks, digital twins, and cloud computing to reimagine mobility operations, Rucha Nanavati advocates for “augmented humans” over replacement, driving an engineering culture rooted in continuous learning and diversity. She believes transformation succeeds only when people and processes align with business outcomes.

Sandeep Naruka

Head of IT (Africa)

Indorama Eleme Fertilizer & Chemicals Limited

A strategic IT leader specialising in digital transformation, ERP implementation (SAP), and IT infrastructure management within the manufacturing sector, Sandeep Naruka’s expertise focuses on optimising supply chains and leveraging Industrial IoT for operational efficiency. His philosophy centres on innovation with agility, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and building resilient technology frameworks that drive sustainable growth in emerging markets.

Sudarshan Rajamani

Director – Cybersecurity

Dexian India Technologies

Specialising in vulnerability management, Identity and Access Management (IAM), and cloud security governance, Sudarshan Rajamani focuses on building resilient cyber-defence architectures and navigating complex compliance landscapes. His philosophy emphasises security by design, proactive risk mitigation, and fostering a culture of vigilance, ensuring technology enables business growth without compromising data integrity.

Vinod Gopinathan

Head Product Portfolio Management and CIDO

Ashok Leyland

With over 30 years of experience in automotive and IT operations, architecting strong infrastructures and harnessing data and AI, Vinod Gopinathan drives enterprise-wide digital transformation through the AAA Strategy (Automation, Analytics, AI), Industrial IoT, and connected-vehicle systems such as iALERT. He champions a culture of bold thinking, collaborative innovation, and purpose-driven execution, focusing on Return on Future (ROF) to build resilient, human-centred enterprises.