In a major leadership shake-up, Tech Mahindra has named Santosh Kumar Jha as the new head of its Global Capability Centres (GCC) vertical, signaling a strategic pivot to strengthen its presence in the rapidly expanding GCC space. This move aligns with the growing emphasis across top Indian IT firms on the high-growth GCC market, which is projected to reach $105 billion by 2030.
Strategic Focus on GCC Expansion
Long known for its telecom expertise, Tech Mahindra is transitioning toward a consulting-led services model, with its GCC business emerging as a central pillar of growth. Jha, who joined the company in March 2025 as Senior Vice President, brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles at TEKsystems as Executive Director and at KPIT, where he focused on global delivery and transformation.
Jha’s elevation marks the fourth key GCC leadership appointment among Indian IT majors in recent months, following similar moves by Cognizant, Wipro, and HCLTech.
Key Leadership Changes
As part of the internal restructuring:
- Santosh Kumar Jha replaces Ram Ramachandran, who now leads specialist sales.
- Sahil Dhawan, a veteran at Tech Mahindra and former KPIT executive, has been appointed as Country Head for India, Middle East, and Africa.
- All GCC Country Heads will now report to Jha, who will in turn report to Dhawan.
This organizational revamp is aligned with CEO Mohit Joshi’s broader vision to scale Tech Mahindra’s GCC consulting and support services.
Strengthened GCC Offerings
To back its renewed focus on GCCs, Tech Mahindra has introduced:
- TechM Consulting (launched on November 4, 2024): A dedicated consulting unit aimed at driving innovation and deeper client engagement.
- SST Next-Gen GCC Offering (launched on April 1, 2025): An end-to-end solution supporting build-operate-transfer models and flexible scaling for clients.
During the Q4 FY25 earnings call, CEO Mohit Joshi highlighted the company’s focus on tailored GCC solutions and leadership expansion to build long-term partnerships with global clients.
Industry-Wide Momentum
Tech Mahindra’s move mirrors a broader trend within the Indian IT sector:
- Cognizant appointed Sailaja Josyula as its GCC head on April 1.
- Wipro hired Sandeep Dhar on May 9.
- HCLTech brought in Kiran Cherukuri earlier in May.
While Cognizant and HCLTech opted for internal promotions, Tech Mahindra and Wipro chose external talent to bring fresh perspectives to their GCC strategies.
Conclusion
Santosh Kumar Jha’s appointment as the head of Tech Mahindra’s GCC vertical goes beyond a routine leadership update — it represents a decisive commitment to tapping into a high-potential market. With enhanced consulting capabilities and a reimagined suite of GCC offerings, Tech Mahindra is poised to lead the next phase of digital transformation for global enterprises.
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
Do Follow: The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News LinkedIn Account | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Facebook | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Youtube | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Twitter |The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Whatsapp Channel | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Instagram
About us:
The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News is a premier platform dedicated to delivering latest news, updates, and insights from the tech industry. With its strong foundation of intellectual property and thought leadership, the platform is well-positioned to stay ahead of the curve and lead conversations about how technology shapes our world. From its early days as CIO News to its rebranding as The Mainstream on November 28, 2024, it has been expanding its global reach, targeting key markets in the Middle East & Africa, ASEAN, the USA, and the UK. The Mainstream is a vision to put technology at the center of every conversation, inspiring professionals and organizations to embrace the future of tech.
