Tata Communications names new managing director & CEO

Tata Communications has appointed Ganesh Lakshminarayanan as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer-Designate, marking a planned leadership change at the network and digital services provider.

The company said Lakshminarayanan will succeed A.S. Lakshminarayanan, the current Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, who is due to retire in April 2026. Tata Communications said the appointment remains subject to regulatory approvals.

Lakshminarayanan brings more than three decades of management experience across multinational corporations, B2B start-ups, and Indian enterprises. His most recent role was Managing Director and Group Vice President for ServiceNow India and SAARC, where he led the company's market growth in the region.

Career record

Before joining ServiceNow, Lakshminarayanan led Airtel's enterprise operations in India. He served as Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Business in India and earlier as Chief Executive Officer of Airtel's Enterprise Business unit.

Tata Communications cited performance during his time at Airtel. The company said the enterprise business unit received the Chairman's Award for Best BU in FY23. Tata Communications said the unit achieved 50% growth over three years and increased market share from 30% to 33% under his leadership.

In addition to his executive roles, Lakshminarayanan has served in Indian industry bodies. He has been elected twice to the NASSCOM executive council and served on the FICCI council. Tata Communications also said he is a founding member of Social Venture Partners Bengaluru.

Education profile

Tata Communications said Lakshminarayanan holds an MBA with high distinction from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. The company said he also has a BS in Computer Science and Engineering from Guindy Engineering College in Chennai, where he graduated as a gold medalist.

Board comments

N.G. Subramaniam, Chairman of Tata Communications, said the company selected Lakshminarayanan after a "rigorous selection process".

"We are pleased to announce the selection of Mr. Ganesh Lakshminarayanan as the Managing Director and CEO - Designate after a rigorous selection process followed by the NRC. Ganesh's experience with global businesses, automation, AI, digital transformation, enterprise relationships and large deals will complement Tata Communications' strategies and augurs well to the growth momentum demonstrated by the company," said N. G. Subramaniam, Chairman, Tata Communications.

Lakshminarayanan described the appointment as an opportunity to build on Tata Communications' existing approach. He referenced the company's leadership teams, culture, and priorities for execution.

"I thank the Board for its trust in me. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve an institution with such a strong legacy. Together with our leadership teams, I look forward to further building on our customer-centric culture, investing in our people, and executing our strategy with continued focus and discipline," said Ganesh Lakshminarayanan, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer-Designate, Tata Communications.

Transition timeline

Tata Communications said its board will appoint Lakshminarayanan as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer after it receives the required regulatory approvals. The company said he will take over from A.S. Lakshminarayanan, who is retiring in April 2026.

The company did not specify which regulatory approvals apply, or how long the process is expected to take. It also did not detail any changes to its organisational structure linked to the transition.

Tata Communications operates in enterprise connectivity and related digital services, and it serves customers across multiple geographies. The company has positioned the change as part of its leadership planning at a time when demand remains strong for managed networks, cloud connectivity, and related business services.

The incoming Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer-Designate will assume the role after the approvals process and the scheduled retirement of the current chief executive, Tata Communications said.