CXO Junction’s Leadership Movement highlights four key CXO appointments this week as enterprises across financial services, public institutions, capital markets, and consumer brands double down on digital resilience and scale, strong technology leadership is more critical than ever. These executive leadership transitions underscore a shared focus on driving digital transformation, strengthening cybersecurity and building future-ready digital foundations across India.
Deepak Bhardwaj Appointed Vice President & Global CIO at Pinnacle Infotech
In a notable CXO appointment in the IT sector, Deepak Bhardwaj has been named Vice President and Global Chief Information Officer at Pinnacle Infotech. This executive leadership appointment marks a strategic step in strengthening the company’s enterprise IT strategy and global technology operations. As part of this senior C-level appointment, he will lead initiatives spanning IT governance, cloud computing, information security, data & AI, and large-scale enterprise transformation programs across international markets.
In his new Global CIO role, Deepak will spearhead efforts to modernise digital infrastructure, enhance cybersecurity strategy, and enable scalable, innovation-driven technology ecosystems. His mandate also includes aligning IT investments with business growth, driving operational excellence, and reinforcing secure digital frameworks to support global expansion — a key focus area in today’s evolving technology leadership landscape.
Deepak brings over two decades of progressive experience in IT leadership and infrastructure management. Prior to joining Pinnacle Infotech, he spent nearly 19 years at Evalueserve, where he advanced from System Administrator to Associate Director. During his tenure, he led enterprise-wide IT infrastructure operations, data centre management, service delivery optimisation, vendor governance, and complex system migrations — playing a pivotal role in scaling technology capabilities within a high-growth environment.
LinkedIn link : https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepak-bhardwaj-109b09a/
Vishal Kokadwar Appointed Deputy Chief Information Security Officer at SIDBI
In a significant cybersecurity leadership appointment within India’s financial services sector, Vishal Kokadwar has been named Deputy Chief Information Security Officer at SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India). This strategic executive move in banking strengthens the institution’s information security governance, cyber risk management, and overall enterprise security framework amid rising digital threats targeting financial institutions.
Based in Mumbai, Vishal will support organisation-wide information security strategy, regulatory compliance, and operational resilience across SIDBI’s digital banking ecosystem. His mandate includes protecting critical infrastructure, enhancing incident response mechanisms, strengthening ISMS frameworks, and ensuring alignment with national and global cybersecurity standards — reinforcing SIDBI’s role within India’s MSME-focused financial landscape.
With over a decade of experience across banking, government, and enterprise environments, Vishal brings deep expertise in cyber defence operations, risk assessment, and security compliance. Prior to this appointment, he served as an Information Security Consultant at NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development), focusing on ISMS implementation and operational risk management. His earlier roles include cybersecurity consulting assignments with Netmagic Solutions and Happiest Minds Technologies, collaborating closely with enterprise banking security teams. He has also held key positions at Wipro and served as a Scientific Officer in the Cyber Crime Division with the Government of Maharashtra, building strong capabilities in digital forensics, cyber investigations, and enterprise-level threat mitigation.
LinkedIn link : https://www.linkedin.com/in/vishal-kokadwar-4422a954/
Sachin Bansode Appointed Chief Technology Officer at Ashika Stock Services Limited
In a notable C-level appointment in capital markets, Sachin Bansode has been named Chief Technology Officer at Ashika Stock Services Limited. This strategic technology leadership transition underscores the firm’s focus on technology-led growth, modern digital platforms, and strengthening its competitive position within India’s financial services ecosystem.
Based in Mumbai, Sachin will lead the organisation’s enterprise technology strategy, overseeing innovation programs, platform modernisation, and large-scale transformation initiatives. His mandate includes enhancing digital customer experience, ensuring regulatory and compliance alignment, and building scalable, high-performance systems to support business agility in regulated market environments. This executive leadership move reflects the increasing role of CTOs in driving operational efficiency and long-term enterprise value creation.
With over 15 years of experience across banking, lending, and capital markets, Sachin brings strong expertise in enterprise architecture, AI-driven platforms, and data strategy. Prior to this appointment, he held senior leadership roles at SMFG India Credit, serving as Head – AI and Data Architecture and Vice President – Enterprise Architecture, where he led enterprise AI and solution design initiatives. His earlier experience includes leadership roles at Piramal Capital & Housing Finance, U GRO Capital, Kotak Mahindra Bank, IDFC FIRST Bank, and Kotak Securities — reflecting deep experience in enterprise applications, financial technology infrastructure, and regulated digital ecosystems.
LinkedIn link : https://www.linkedin.com/in/sachinbansode/
Reema Jain Appointed Chief Information Officer at Unilever
In a significant global technology leadership appointment, Reema Jain has been named Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Unilever. This strategic C-level move marks an important step in accelerating the organisation’s AI-driven transformation and strengthening its global enterprise technology strategy.
As CIO, Reema will lead Unilever’s technology vision, focusing on advancing AI adoption, modernising digital infrastructure, and aligning technology innovation with long-term business growth. Her mandate includes driving enterprise-wide digital transformation initiatives, enabling data-led decision-making, enhancing operational agility, and embedding scalable technology frameworks across global markets.
Prior to her CIO role at Unilever, Reema Jain has amassed over two decades of global technology leadership experience, including serving as Chief Information & Digital Officer at Hero MotoCorp, where she led end-to-end digital transformation and tech strategy. She has also held senior roles such as Chief Digital Officer at Vodafone Idea, and multiple leadership positions at Unilever driving digital supply chain, ERP integration, and enterprise IT initiatives.
LinkedIn link : https://www.linkedin.com/in/reemajain/
These executive appointments reflect how technology leadership continues to shape enterprise strategy across industries. Stay tuned as we bring you the latest CXO movements and leadership updates driving digital transformation forward.
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