Vinay Mantha heads SapientNitro’s Data Analytics & Optimization Center of Excellence (COE) in India. In his current role he is focused on an ongoing expansion of the analytics delivery arm to serve clients from NA/EU/APAC and on building framework-based analytical capabilities for SapientNitro. Some of his noteworthy clients include the likes of Vodafone, BlackBerry, Marks & Spencer, Chrysler, Unilever and Citibank. Vinay is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) who holds an M.S degree in Computer Science from Wright State University (OH, USA) and an Engineering Bachelor’s degree from Osmania University (Hyderabad). A data evangelist by passion, over a career spanning 15 years, Vinay has spent most of his time architecting data solutions, chartering data mazes and solving data puzzles – in this process, transforming data into information leading to actionable insights. Starting his career with Intel as a database developer, he has subsequently worked with companies such as Unisys and more recently Simplexity (a US-based startup focusing on mobile retail e-commerce) in various hands-on as well as leadership roles. The entrepreneurial opportunity to build a “Center of Excellence” ground-up and execute on his vision/strategy prompted Vinay to take up this position with SapientNitro and relocate from US to India in 2011. An author of several thought leadership articles and a frequent guest speaker at Indian Institute of Management (IIM) – Lucknow, Vinay is passionate about disseminating knowledge on analytics.