IT consulting company Avanade has appointed Achal Kataria as Managing Director and CEO of its India business, effective immediately. Kataria, who previously led Cognizant’s India operations, will oversee Avanade’s business strategy and operations as the company expands its presence in a market seeing rapid adoption of cloud and AI technologies.
As CEO, Kataria will work with clients, partners and employees to accelerate growth and help organisations derive measurable business outcomes from digital and AI transformation. The appointment comes as Avanade seeks to help organisations move from AI experimentation towards enterprise-wide transformation.
“India is a strategic growth market for Avanade, and Achal’s appointment is an important next step in building our business in the country,” Bhavya Kapoor, President of the APAC and Global SMEC and Catalyst Solutions, said in a statement.
Kataria has over 30 years of experience in technology services and leadership across various industries, including banking, healthcare, and telecommunications. Before joining Avanade, he led Cognizant’s India operations, driving growth and enhancing client relationships. He has also held senior positions at EXL, Tech Mahindra, Genpact, and Hughes Software Systems.
“Having worked closely with organisations across India for many years, I’ve seen firsthand the ambition and pace at which businesses are embracing transformation,” Kataria added. “Avanade has built a strong foundation in the market and is uniquely positioned to help clients translate AI and cloud investments into real business impact.”
Avanade, founded by Microsoft and Accenture, supports over 7,000 organisations globally and has 60,000 Microsoft professionals worldwide. Since entering the Indian market, Avanade has strengthened its local presence by expanding capabilities, collaborating closely with Microsoft and Accenture, and helping organisations move from AI trials to enterprise-wide transformation.
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