Avanade Appoints Achal Kataria As India CEO

• 20 Aug 2026
• TM Team
• 0 Comments

Avanade India has appointed Achal Kataria as its Managing Director and CEO, effective immediately, as the company strengthens its leadership to accelerate growth in one of its key markets.

Kataria brings more than 30 years of experience across technology services, enterprise transformation, global operations and commercial leadership. He joins Avanade from Cognizant, where he led the company's India business and focused on growth, strategic client relationships and market expansion.

Before Cognizant, Kataria held senior leadership positions at EXL, Tech Mahindra, Genpact and Hughes Software Systems. His experience spans industries including banking, insurance, healthcare, manufacturing, telecommunications and life sciences.

In his new role, he will lead Avanade's business strategy and operations in India, with a focus on expanding the company's market presence and helping clients translate digital and AI investments into measurable business outcomes.

Commenting on his appointment, Kataria said India is entering an important phase of technology-led business transformation. "Having worked closely with organisations across India for many years, I've seen firsthand the ambition and pace at which businesses are embracing transformation. 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," he said.

He added that he looks forward to driving the company's next phase of growth while creating value for clients, partners and employees.

Bhavya Kapoor, President, APAC and Global SMEC & Catalyst Solutions at Avanade, said India remains a strategic growth market for the company. "Achal brings the combination of leadership experience, customer understanding and operational expertise needed to scale our business and deepen our impact with clients. His appointment reflects our commitment to investing in local leadership and building a business that delivers lasting value for organisations across India," Kapoor said.

The appointment comes as Indian enterprises continue to increase investments in cloud technologies and artificial intelligence, with Avanade positioning itself to support organisations as they move from AI experimentation to enterprise-wide transformation.