Birlasoft Limited Announces Senior Management Changes with Vikram Puranik as COO
Birlasoft Limited's board approved strategic leadership appointments with Vikram Puranik as COO, bringing 25+ years of technology leadership experience, and Arun Rao as CHRO. The appointments follow resignations of three senior management personnel and aim to strengthen the company's global delivery capabilities and operational excellence.

*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Birlasoft Limited's Board of Directors held a crucial meeting on March 30, 2026, addressing significant changes in the company's senior management structure. The board meeting, which commenced at 4.15 pm and concluded at 5.18 pm, focused on noting resignations and approving new appointments in key leadership positions, all reported under Regulation 30 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.
Senior Management Resignations
The board noted the resignations of three senior management personnel, all citing personal reasons for their departure. The resignations are effective at the close of business hours on March 31, 2026.
| Position: | Executive | Reason | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Human Resources Officer: | Ms. Priti Kataria | Personal reasons | March 31, 2026 |
| Chief Operating Officer: | Mr. Selvakumaran Mannappan | Personal reasons | March 31, 2026 |
| CEO - Rest of the World & Global Head - Strategic Growth Initiatives: | Mr. Manjunath Kygonahally | Personal reasons | March 31, 2026 |
New Leadership Appointments
The board approved two strategic appointments to fill critical positions in the organization's leadership structure, both effective April 1, 2026.
Chief Human Resources Officer Appointment
Mr. Arun Rao has been appointed as the Chief Human Resources Officer and Senior Management Personnel of the company. Arun Rao brings over three decades of experience in HR leadership, talent development, and organizational transformation. He has been associated with the company since 2020 and recently held the role of Group Head - Leadership Development at the CKA Birla Group until March 2026.
Chief Operating Officer Appointment
Mr. Vikram Puranik has been appointed as the Chief Operating Officer and Senior Management Personnel. The company issued a detailed press release announcing his appointment, highlighting his extensive experience and strategic role in the organization's growth.
Vikram is a seasoned, customer-centric technology leader with over 25 years of experience in building and scaling high-performance, AI-first engineering organizations. Known for driving end-to-end delivery excellence, portfolio P&L ownership, and sustainable growth, he has successfully incubated differentiated centers of excellence and service lines that unlock new revenue streams and deliver long-term customer value.
Strategic Focus and Leadership Vision
In his role as COO, Vikram will focus on strengthening Birlasoft's global delivery and innovation agenda, driving operational excellence, margin expansion, and productivity transformation. He will work closely with leadership teams across the organization to accelerate the real-world adoption of emerging technologies, enabling clients to achieve transformative, future-ready outcomes at scale.
Commenting on the appointment, Angan Guha, CEO and Managing Director, Birlasoft, said: "We are delighted to welcome Vikram to the Birlasoft leadership team. He joins us at a pivotal phase of our growth journey, bringing a strong track record of execution excellence and enterprise-scale transformation. Vikram's ability to combine strategic clarity with operational rigor will further strengthen Birlasoft's ambition to be a leading, innovation-driven enterprise. I am confident his leadership will accelerate value creation for our clients."
Professional Background
Prior to joining Birlasoft, Vikram served as Chief of Engineering Delivery and Operations and P&L Owner at GlobalLogic, where he led large-scale digital engineering transformations for Fortune 500 enterprises and technology firms across TMT and Consumer sectors, including Payments, Retail, and EdTech. He also played a pivotal role in establishing and scaling India delivery centers into world-class Global Capability Centers for global enterprises and product organizations.
| Position: | New Executive | Appointment Date | Educational Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Human Resources Officer: | Mr. Arun Rao | April 1, 2026 | Bachelor of Science, PGDM in Personnel Management |
| Chief Operating Officer: | Mr. Vikram Puranik | April 1, 2026 | Bachelor's in Electronics & Telecommunications, PG in Computer Software Engineering |
Regulatory Compliance
The company has fulfilled all requirements under Regulation 30 of the Listing Regulations and SEBI Circular SEBI/HO/CFD/CFD-PoD-1/P/CIR/2023/123 dated July 13, 2023. The intimation has been made available on the company's website at https://www.birlasoft.com/company/investors . Company Secretary & Compliance Officer Sneha Padve signed the regulatory filing, ensuring proper documentation and compliance with all listing obligations.
Historical Stock Returns for Birlasoft
| 1 Day | 5 Days | 1 Month | 6 Months | 1 Year | 5 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| +6.06% | +6.75% | -4.93% | +5.87% | -4.49% | +41.46% |
How will the simultaneous departure of three senior executives impact Birlasoft's operational continuity and client relationships in the near term?
What specific AI-first initiatives and emerging technologies will the new COO prioritize to drive Birlasoft's competitive positioning in 2026?
Could this leadership restructuring signal a broader strategic pivot or acquisition strategy given the emphasis on 'innovation-driven enterprise' goals?


































