World AI Summit 2025: Where India and the World Converge to Shape the AI Decade

Rahul Sharanappa Sankanur, IAS

Director, Department of Electronics, IT, Biotechnology and Science & Technology
Government of Karnataka
MD, Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS)
IT and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Departments Government of Karnataka

Rahul Sharanappa Sankanur is a dedicated officer of the Indian Administrative Service from the 2019 batch. An alumnus of RV College of Engineering, Bengaluru, he holds a degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering.

Known for his forward-thinking approach and commitment to public service, Sankanur brings a strong foundation in technology and governance to his administrative responsibilities. His work reflects a keen interest in leveraging innovation for effective policy implementation and citizen-centric development.

Sanjeev Kumar Gupta

Chief Executive Officer
Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM)

Sanjeev Kumar Gupta is a seasoned leader with over two decades of experience spanning government and global technology firms. He began his career with the Government of India in 1998, serving in key roles for a decade. His corporate journey includes leadership positions at IBM, Accenture (Managing Director), and Microsoft (General Manager). He also led Lahari, a Government of India initiative, as MD & CEO until 2022.

Sanjeev holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Statistics from Banaras Hindu University, an M.Sc. in Statistics from Delhi University, and an MBA from the Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi.

M. Balasubramaniam (Bala MS)

CEO, Stratinfinity Inc
Deputy Chairman, MoE & AICTE Investor Committee

Bala MS is a seasoned CEO, board director, investor, and startup mentor with over 24 years of experience in scaling Global Capability Centres (GCCs), driving M&As, and leading digital transformation across fintech, edtech, and deep tech sectors.

He is the Founder and CEO of Stratinfinity, a global consulting firm that supports organisations in setting up Indian subsidiaries and accelerating growth through geolocation strategy, talent development, and stakeholder management.

Sandhya Vasudevan

Board Member & Fintech Chair
TiE Bangalore
Former MD
Deutsche Bank & Thomson Reuters
Independent Director & Trustee

Sandhya is an Independent Director and a trusted partner in the start-up and scale-up ecosystem. With a global leadership background in financial services—from front-office to back-office, she brings strategic depth and cross-functional expertise.

As a mentor, social venture partner, and think tank member, Sandhya combines curiosity with experience to drive growth, innovation, and meaningful change across sectors.

Sanjeev Rastogi

CEO - GCC
Adani Group

Sanjeev Rastogi leads India’s first multi-industry, multi-functional Global Capability Center (GCC) at Adani Group, setting a new benchmark for the future of business services. With a rich global background in GBS and organizational transformation, he has consistently driven large-scale change and delivered high-impact outcomes.

Known for blending operational excellence with innovation, Sanjeev has led diverse, technology-enabled transformations across geographies, enhancing business performance and customer experience.

Akhil Gupta

Co-founder and Chief Product & Technology Officer
NoBroker

Akhil Gupta is a passionate technologist and product leader, driven by a mission to solve real-world problems through the power of technology and data. As Co-founder and CPTO of NoBroker.com, India’s first proptech unicorn and the world’s largest C2C real estate platform, he has redefined property transactions by eliminating brokerage and delivering a seamless, tech-led user experience.

An IIT Bombay alumnus (B.Tech + M.Tech, Chemical Engineering, Class of 2000), Akhil previously led Sales Cloud development at Oracle, earning a patent for his innovations. In NoBroker’s early days, he single-handedly built the platform, embedding AI and machine learning to enable its scalable growth from day one.

Suresh Khadakbhavi

Chief Executive Officer
Digi Yatra Foundation

Suresh Khadakbhavi is driving the digital future of air travel in India as CEO of Digi Yatra Foundation. Under his leadership, Digi Yatra has pioneered a pan-India biometric passenger processing system powered by cutting-edge technologies like Self-Sovereign Identity and Distributed Ledger. The initiative sets new benchmarks for privacy, security, and seamless travel.

With a strong background in digital innovation, Suresh is leading the nationwide expansion of this contactless platform, transforming the airport experience into a frictionless, health-safe, and privacy-first journey.

Harsh Vardhan

Global Head - Digital Innovation
Apollo Tyres Ltd

Harsh Vardhan is a dynamic leader in AI and digital transformation, known for translating visionary ideas into tangible business impact. As Global Head of Digital Innovation at Apollo Tyres Ltd, he champions an AI-first strategy, driving innovation from boardroom to shop floor.

Harsh leads the adoption of advanced technologies like AI, machine learning, AR/VR, and digital twins to revolutionise operations, boost manufacturing efficiency, and accelerate sustainability outcomes, positioning Apollo Tyres at the forefront of digital excellence.

Nikhil Bhushan

Chief Technology Officer
Tata Starbucks Limited

A results-driven technology leader, Nikhil Bhushan excels in delivering differentiation and competitive advantage through transformative digital strategies. He brings rich experience in application and infrastructure modernisation, ERP rollouts, global program management, and digital workforce transformation across banking, insurance, and F&B sectors.

With a strong consulting and pre-sales background, Nikhil is known for solving complex challenges with agility and innovation. His commitment to quality and out-of-the-box thinking makes him a trusted strategic partner and go-to leader in high-stakes scenarios.

Anand Thakur

Chief Product and Technology Officer
Reliance Retail

Anand Thakur is a seasoned techno-business leader with over 20 years of experience, having driven digital transformation across leading brands including Reliance Retail, Housing.com, Domino’s (Jubilant), Koovs, and Lenskart.

His expertise spans e-commerce, product strategy, digital marketing, data analytics, and omni-channel technology management. Known for scaling tech and business operations globally, Anand brings a rare blend of startup agility and corporate depth.

Binit Jha

Chief Data Officer
IDBI Bank

Binit Jha brings over 22 years of experience, with 16+ years dedicated to data engineering, analytics, automation, and process re-engineering. As Chief Data Officer at IDBI Bank, he leads data-driven transformation, combining deep technical expertise with strong operational and human capital strategies.

Previously, Binit played a key role in building niche data and automation teams for global capability centers (GCCs), while also scaling large functions like front office operations and SRE. His leadership spans across setting up and expanding departments, driving innovation, and implementing specialized hiring programs for firms like Morgan Stanley, UBS, and Bank of America.

Pankaj Gupta

Chief Digital & Marketing Officer
Karnataka Bank

With over 30 years of experience, Pankaj Gupta brings a unique blend of strategic leadership and digital innovation. Since 2019, he has been driving the digital transformation of Karnataka Bank as CD&MO, spearheading initiatives like Cloud@Core and leading the charge towards a tech-forward future.

Previously, he shaped Sify 3.0 over four impactful years, following a 16-year tenure at Wipro where he held key business leadership roles across IT products and services. His early career at Godrej Pacific and Acer laid the foundation in channels and distribution.

Known for building enduring CXO relationships, he combines deep techno-commercial acumen with a forward-looking, entrepreneurial mindset.

Jyothirlatha B

Chief Technology Officer
Godrej Capital

Jyothirlatha B is a visionary technology leader driven by curiosity and a passion for leveraging technology to solve real-world challenges. As CTO of Godrej Capital, she shapes the company’s tech vision by driving transformational initiatives and building empowered, innovative teams.

Under her leadership, Godrej Capital is evolving into a TechFin company, adopting a data-driven approach powered by a centralized Snowflake platform and AI/ML-driven analytics. This has enhanced operational efficiency, reduced issue resolution time significantly, and boosted customer satisfaction with personalized solutions and a best-in-class Net Promoter Score.

Manikandan Thangarathnam

Senior Director – Engineering
Uber

Manikandan Thangarathnam is a seasoned technology leader with over 20 years of experience driving innovation at scale. As Senior Director of Engineering at Uber, he heads the Bangalore tech center, leading teams that power global advancements in Mobility and Marketplace experiences.

Previously, he played a key role at Amazon, leading the global AppStore team and helping establish the Amazon Chennai development office. A passionate innovator, Manikandan holds 12+ patents.

Rahul Pandey

Chief Information Officer
Indian Clearing Corporation Limited

Rahul Pandey is a dynamic technology leader with a proven track record in product management, digital transformation, and M&A strategy across diverse organizations. He has successfully built high-performance teams, driven innovation at scale, and led the establishment of Global Capability Centers (GCCs).

With a deep passion for aligning enterprise tech with strategic business goals, Rahul fosters strong collaboration with stakeholders and board members. His leadership has consistently delivered impactful outcomes, transforming operations and touching millions of lives.

Chandan Vijay

Global Chief Data Officer
ABB

Chandan Vijay serves as the Global Chief Data Officer for ABB’s Energy Industries division, where he leads data and analytics strategy to drive business value, operational excellence, and improved customer outcomes. With over 20 years of global experience, he brings a strong blend of technical depth and strategic vision.

He specialises in enterprise-wide digital transformation, leveraging data-driven innovation across cloud architecture, data lakes, product and program management, and large-scale IT delivery.

Nitin Gupta

Vice President and Head - Data, Analytics & AI
Mastercard

Nitin Gupta is a seasoned AI, Analytics, and Engineering leader with 20+ years of experience driving innovation across fintech, finance, retail, and more. Expert in AI and Generative AI, he delivers scalable solutions that fuel growth and optimize operations.

An IIT Dhanbad and IIM Bangalore alumnus, Nitin blends technical depth with strategic vision to lead teams, foster innovation, and create impact globally. He is also a sought-after speaker and guest lecturer at top AI forums and institutes.