AN OVERVIEW

CXO VANGUARD 2026

Architecting Resilience: The AI & Cybersecurity Convergence

As we approach 2026, the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity has become the new frontier of enterprise strategy. CXO VANGUARD 2026 is an elite assembly designed for visionaries who refuse to simply react to the future, but choose instead to shape it.

This year, we move beyond the hype to explore how AI-driven innovation and ironclad security postures work in tandem to create the truly resilient enterprise. Participants will master the art of transforming security from a defensive necessity into a high-velocity strategic enabler.

Now in its 7th edition, CIO AXIS proudly presents this definitive gathering of the industry’s brightest minds. Join us in Mumbai on July 17, 2026, as we honor the exceptional achievements of our Vanguard Award Winners — the leaders in AI, Cloud, Cybersecurity, Automation, and Data Protection who are redefining the boundaries of the digital age.

INDIA'S TOP CXOs
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INDIA'S TOP CXOs
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TOPICAL SESSIONS
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CXOs AWARDS
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HOURS OF NETWORKING
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Discussion Topics

Multi / Hybrid Clouds

Data Analytics

Generative / Weak / Super AI

CX / ITSM / AIOps

Digital Transformation

AI / ML / RPA

Remote / Hybrid Working

Enterprise Security

Digital & Zero Trust

AI-enabled SecOps

Data Security & Privacy

IT Transformation

App Modernization

Digital Workflow

Mobile Technology

Data Center

SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

INDUSTRIES IN FOCUS

Aviation

BFSI & Fintech

Manufacturing

Utilities & Power

Healthcare & Pharma

FMCG

PSUs

Retail & Ecommerce

Digital Native / ITES

Logistics & Supply Chain

WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN?

Gain direct access to top CXO industry influencers

Engage with the Top 100+ CXOs of India

Discover emerging trends and policy directions

Network with fellow IT decision-makers and IT leaders

Celebrate excellence at the CXO Trailblazer

Explore the latest in tech innovation through live demos and exhibits

Exclusive CXO Roundtables

Practical AI / Cybersecurity Workshops

GUEST & SPEAKERS

A Shiju Rawther

CITO
CareEdge Group

Ambarish Kumar Singh

CISO
Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited

Ameya Saathye

Group Head - Cyber Security & Digital Identity Management & Governance (DIMG)
IIFL (India Infoline Group)

Amey Subhash Lakeshri

Associate Partner - Digital Trust Cyber Defense,
KPMG India

Anand Kumar Sinha

Chief Digital & Information Officer
Tata Technologies Limited

Anand Sundaram

Head - Data & Analytics
IDFC First Bank

Apoorba Patranabish

Partner
GT Bharat

Avinash Babu Ravipati

Director - Technology,
Halofort

Awadhesh Mishra

AVP - IT Infra & Security
SMFG India Credit Company Ltd

Binod Roy

CTO / CIO
Wonder Home Finance Limited

Bhagwatiprasad Dubey

CISO
Tata Capital Housing Finance Limited

Deepa Cornelius

GDC CISO,
ATOS

Deepak Rana

Global CISO,
Evalueserve

Dr Ashish Shrivastava

Business Head Digital Engineering,
FSS (Financial Software & Systems)

Dr. Shabbir Badra

Vice President - IT & Security
Apraava Renewables Energy Private Limited

Gaurav Duggal

CIO -JEPS
(Jio Enterprise PaaS & SaaS) Jio Platforms

Janakbhai Bhindora

Head - Enterprise IT & Digital Strategy,
Transrail Lighting Limited

Jaspreet Singh

Chief Revenue Officer
GT Bharat

John Joseph

Head, Cybersecurity
Perceptive INC

Kanishk Gaur

CEO,
Athenian Tech

Kiran Komatla

Group CTO
Restaurant Brand Asia (Burger King)

Kunal Kimatkar

Head Commercial Business - India & SAARC,
TrendAI

KV Dipu

Sr. President & Head of Operations and Customer Service
Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Co Ltd

Lalit Kumar Rout

CISO
Cent Bank Home Finance Ltd

Lalit Trivedi

Global Head Information Security & DPO
FlexM

Manish Kalra

Country Director - India,
NopalCyber

Manoj Chawla

CIO
Wisdom Finserv

Mayur Tanna

CIO,
TransformHub

Meheriar Patel

Group CTO
Master Group

Melwyn Rebeiro

Regional CISO & DPO
Julius Baer Wealth Advisors (I) Pvt Ltd

Mukesh Jain

CTO & EVP
Capgemini Group

Nageshwaran Chinnadurai

CISO
TVS Holdings (TVS Motor Group)

Navratan Bohra

Vice President - Digital Initiatives
Anand Rathi Share and Stock Brokers Ltd

Nitish Bodake

Area Sales Manager,
Barco

Parth Trivedi

CISO
Finolex Industries Ltd (Bosch Global)

Pradipta Patro

CISO
VP - Data Privacy, Polycab India Limited

Prince Joseph

Global CIO
NeST Group, SFO Technologies

Rahuul Raaii

Head - Service Management Platform
Syngenta Group

Rajesh Choudhary

CIO,
CSB Bank Limited

Rajesh Garg

President & Group CIO,
Yotta Data Services Pvt Ltd

Ranjeeth Bellary

Partner
EY

Sachin Kawalkar

CISO & VP
Neeyamo

Sanjay Jaiswal

DVP, CISO
Nuvama Wealth Investment Ltd

Sanjay Kumar Srivastava

CIO, Head - IT & Digital
Plasser India Pvt. Ltd

Shivanath Somanathan

EVP & CISO
Star Health & Allied Insurance

Shrirang Rao

Regional Sales Director,
SolarWinds

Vipin Menon

Director - Enterprise Sale,
Halofort

Vishwajeet Singh

Sr. Director - IT, Cloud & SecOps,
Axtria

Vivek Zakarde

Head - Data, AI & Privacy officer
India First life Insurance Ltd

Yogesh V Malvankar

President & Head - IT GRC,
Yes Bank Limited

AGENDA & SCHEDULE

*Agenda & Schedule to change without prior notice

08:00 AM – 09:00 AM
Delegate Registrations / Networking Breakfast / Technology Showcase
09:00 AM – 09:30 AM
Lamp Lighting & Welcome Note
09:30 AM – 09:45 AM
Opening Keynote: CXO Vision 2026 – Architecting Resilience: The AI & Cybersecurity Convergence

By: Rajesh Garg, President & Group CIO, Yotta Data Services Private Limited

09:45 AM – 10:00 AM
Fireside Chat: AI on the Menu: Scaling Practical Artificial Intelligence in the Real-World Enterprise

Participants:
-- Kiran Komatla, Group CTO, Restaurant Brand India (Burger King)
-- Dr. Kanishk Gaur, CEO, Athenian Tech Ltd

10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
Panel Discussion: The Cyber-Resilient CIO: Defending Against AI Weaponization and Continuous Disruption
Moderator: Ranjeeth Bellary, Partner, EY
Panel Speakers:
-- Anand Kumar Sinha, Chief Digital & Information Officer, Tata Technologies Limited
-- Kiran Komatla, Group CTO, Restaurant Brand Asia (Burger King)
-- Sanjay Kumar Srivastava, CIO, Head - IT & Digital, Plasser India Pvt. Ltd
-- Mayur Tanna, CIO, TransformHub
-- Vivek Zakarde, Head - Data, AI & Privacy Officer, India First Life Insurance Ltd
-- Janakbhai Bhindora, Head - Enterprise IT & Digital Strategy, Transrail Lighting Limited
10:45 AM – 11:00 AM
The Human Side of Autonomous IT -- How IT Leaders Are Redefining Roles in the Age of AI​​

By: Shrirang Rao, Regional Sales Director, SolarWinds

11:00 AM – 11:15 AM
Securing the AI Era: Preemptive Security for an Intelligent World

By: Kunal Kimatkar, Head Commercial Business - India & SAARC, TrendAI

11:15 AM – 12:00 PM
Panel Discussion: Zero Trust in the Age of AI, Cloud & Autonomous Systems
Moderator: Manish Kalra, Country Director, NopalCyber
Panelists:
-- Deepak Rana, Global CISO, Evalueserve
-- Ambarish Kumar Singh, CISO, Godrej Enterprises Group
-- Ameya Saathye, Group Head - Cyber Security & Digital Identity Management & Governance, IIFL Group
-- Lalit Trivedi, Global CIO, CISO and DPO, Flexm
-- Nageshwaran Chinnadurai, CISO, TVS Holdings (TVS Motor Group)
-- Parth Trivedi, CISO, Finolex Industries Ltd (Bosch Global)
12.00 PM – 12.15 PM
Tea-Coffee Break / Innovation Showcase
12:15 PM – 01:00 PM
Panel Discussion: From AI Experiments to Enterprise Scale: Securing AI for Enterprise-Wide Adoption
Moderator: Jaspreet Singh, Chief Revenue Officer, GT Bharat LLP
Panelists:
-- Anand Sundaram, Head - Data & Analytics, IDFC First Bank
-- KV Dipu, Sr. President & Head of Operations and Customer Service, Bajaj General Insurance Co Ltd
-- Manoj Chawla, CIO, Wisdom Finserv
-- Rahuul Raaii, Head - Service Management Platform, Syngenta Group
-- Sanjay Jaiswal, DVP & CISO, Nuvama Wealth Investment Ltd
-- Dr Ashish Shrivastava, Business Head - Digital Engineering, FSS (Financial Software & Systems)
01.00 PM – 02.00 PM
Lucky Draw / Networking Lunch / Technology Showcase
02:00 PM – 02:45 PM
7th CXO Vanguard Awards 2026 -- Part - 1
02:45 PM – 03:00 PM
Rebuilding Trust: Converging Device, Identity, and Access in the Zero Trust Era

-- Avinash Ravipati, Director - Technology, Halofort
-- Vipin Menon, Director - Enterprise Sales, Halofort

03:00 PM – 03:45 PM
Panel Discussion: Agentic AI & Autonomous Enterprises: Are CIOs Ready for the Next Operating Model?

Moderator: Amey Subhash Lakeshri, Associate Partner - Digital Trust, Cyber Defense, KPMG India
Panel Speakers:
-- Dr. A Shiju Rawther, CITO, CareEdge Group
-- Gaurav Duggal, CIO - JEPS (Jio Enterprise PaaS & SaaS), Jio Platforms
-- Rajesh Choudhary, CIO, CSB Bank Limited
-- Lalit Kumar Rout, CISO, Cent Bank Home Finance Ltd
-- Mukesh Jain, CTO & EVP, Capgemini Group
-- Vishwajeet Singh, Sr. Director - IT, Cloud & SecOps, Axtria

03:45 PM – 04:00 PM
The Untethered Enterprise: Smart, Secure and Wireless

By: Nitish Bodake, Area Sales Manager, Barco

04:00 PM – 04:45 PM
Panel Discussion: The AI Security Arms Race: Defending Enterprises Against Intelligent Threats

Moderator: Apoorba Patranabish, Partner, GT Bharat LLC

Panelists:
-- Dr. Vasudevan Nair, VP IT & Group CISO, Writer Corporation
-- Pradipta Patro, CISO, VP - Data Privacy, Polycab India Limited
-- John Joseph, Head, Cybersecurity, Perceptive Inc
-- Awadhesh Mishra, AVP- IT Infra & Security, SMFG India Credit Company Ltd
-- Deepa Cornelius, GDC CISO, ATOS
-- Dr. Shabbir Badra, Vice President - IT & Security, Apraava Renewables Energy Pvt Ltd
-- Nitin Patil, Head - V1 Platform & SOC Services - India & SAARC, TrendAI

04:45 PM – 05:20 PM
Tea-Coffee Break / Technology Showcase
05:20 PM – 05:40 PM
Fireside Chat: The Consolidated SOC: Reclaiming Visibility, Speed, and Control in an App-First World
05:40 PM – 06:00 PM
Fireside Chat: Securing the Core: Cyber Resilience Strategies for Critical Financial Infrastructures

Participants:
(A). Ramesh Gurram, CISO, BSE Limited
(B). Apoorba Patranabish, Partner, GT Bharat LLP

06:00 PM – 06:50 PM
Panel Discussion: Cyber Resilience Beyond Recovery: Building Self-Healing Digital Enterprises

Moderator: Dr. Kanishk Gaur, CEO, Athenian Tech Ltd
Panel Speakers:
-- Melwyn Rebeiro, Regional CISO & DPO, Julius Baer Wealth Advisors (I) Pvt Ltd
-- Sachin Kawalkar, CISO & VP, Neeyamo
-- Deval Mazmudar, Consulting CISO, TJSB Bank
-- Navratan Bohra, Vice President - Digital Initiatives, Anand Rathi Share & Stock Brokers Ltd
-- Dr. Prince Joseph, Global CIO, NeST Group, SFO Technologies

06:50 PM – 07:30 PM
7th CXO Vanguard Awards 2026 -- Part - 2
07:30 PM onwards
Entertainment Session
Mega Lucky Draw / Networking with Cocktails & Dinner
*Agenda & Schedule to change without prior notice

PARTNERS

Event Partners

Presenting Partner

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Brand Partner

Enterprise Observability Partner

Gold Partner

Silver Partner

Digital Transformation Partner

Exhibiting Partner

PARTNER WITH US

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Ready to Step into An Exclusive Gathering of top CXOs of India?

Partnership Opportunity

Speaking Opportunity

Delegate Query

VENUE

Hotel Sahara Star

Mumbai

Opp Domestic Airport, Navpada, Airport Area, Vile Parle, Mumbai 400099

CIO AXIS is a premier insights platform for today’s IT leadership -- including CIOs, CISOs, CTOs, CDOs, DPOs, Heads of IT, and other C-suite decision-makers. Our mission is to empower these leaders to make smarter, faster IT decisions across every industry.

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