Avanade appoints former Cognizant leader Achal Kataria as India CEO
The Microsoft and Accenture-backed Avanade has appointed Achal Kataria as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of its India business, effective immediately. Kataria joins from Cognizant, where he led the company’s India operations, and brings more than 30 years of experience in technology services to a company sharpening its focus on AI, cloud and enterprise transformation.
Kataria brings more than three decades of experience in technology services and business transformation. Most recently, he headed Cognizant’s India business, where he was responsible for growth, strategic client relationships and market expansion.
Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership positions at EXL, Tech Mahindra, Genpact and Hughes Software Systems, working across sectors including banking, insurance, healthcare, manufacturing, telecommunications and life sciences.
At Avanade, Kataria will oversee the company’s business strategy and operations in India. His mandate includes expanding the firm’s market presence and helping clients convert digital and AI investments into measurable business outcomes, as enterprises across the country move beyond AI experimentation towards large-scale deployment.
Commenting on his appointment, Kataria said India is entering a significant phase of technology-led transformation, with organisations across the country adopting digital technologies at speed. He added that Avanade is well positioned to help businesses translate AI and cloud investments into tangible impact, and said he looks forward to leading the company’s next stage of growth while creating value for clients, partners and employees.
