Japan's NTT Data To Press On With India Expansion Under First Indian Origin CEO
Dubey, who is set to take charge later this year, said his journey as CEO is beginning at a unique time in history.
NTT Data Inc., which represents NTT Data's global operations outside Japan, with $18 billion in revenue and a workforce of more than 1,50,000 employees, is set to go big on its expansion in India. This time, with an Indian-origin chief executive officer at the helm.
Abhijit Dubey has been named as the CEO designate for NTT Data Inc., becoming the first Indian origin CEO of a Japanese company.
"In an arguably de-globalising world, this is just one small example of a still globalising world," Dubey told NDTV Profit in an interview.
"I frequently describe us as the invisible $30-billion company that is changing the world responsibly. I am excited about the opportunity to build on the legacy of the 150-year-old NTT Group," he said.
Dubey, who is set to take charge later this year, said his journey as CEO is beginning at a unique time in history. "The confluence of geopolitical, macro-economic, social inequality and climate change challenges, coupled with seismic technology revolutions, such as Gen AI, is a daunting time for all companies and leaders. And yet, it comes with unique opportunities to redefine entire industries and companies," he said.
Renewed India Focus?
India is one of the most strategically important countries for NTT Data, given that it is the second-largest employee base for NTT Group (the $100 billion+ conglomerate) after Japan, with more than 40,000 employees.
India also acts as the delivery and innovation hub for NTT Data's global clients, even as NTT is one of the largest IT service providers in the country, serving many local ones.
"We power a meaningful part of the digital infrastructure in India. The country represents our largest data center footprint in Asia. We have 18 data centers in India today and have plans to add ten more, especially to meet the emerging and future demand for Gen AI," Dubey said.
"We have big plans for further expansion in the years ahead and want India to be in our top five countries in the future," he added.
Under Dubey, NTT Data Inc. will be investing $500 million per year in data centers for the next 3-5 years.
"Growth in India is anticipated to be driven by industries such as BFSI, manufacturing, automotive, healthcare and life sciences," Dubey said, emphasising on his focus sectors.
Going ahead, India will play a major role as an innovation hub for artificial intelligence, with global clients being serviced out of the country. It is already home to one of six global innovation centers of the NTT Data Group, he said.
