Held at ITC Kohenur on July 25, the event brought together top CIOs and IT leaders to honor innovation, discuss strategy, and shape India’s digital future
The Hyderabad chapter of the prestigious CIO500 & Accelerator X Awards 2025, presented by Secure Network Solutions (SNS), concluded successfully on 25th July at the luxurious Hotel ITC Kohenur. The event witnessed a dynamic congregation of more than 120 senior technology leaders, visionaries, and IT transformation champions from across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Organized by Enterprise IT World, the CIO500 series is traveling across 10 Indian cities to recognize CIOs and IT Heads who have significantly contributed to their organizations’ business continuity, infrastructure modernization, and digital transformation journeys over the past year. After a strong start in Chennai on July 18, Hyderabad was the second stop of this high-impact nationwide series.
Setting the Stage for Recognition and Reflection
The event opened with a Networking High Tea at 3:00 PM, followed by a warm welcome by the EMCEE. Sanjay Mohapatra, Editor of Enterprise IT World, officially inaugurated the evening with a note on the critical role CIOs are playing in India’s economic growth, especially as the country chases a $7.3 trillion GDP target by 2030.
“The technology leader’s role is no longer confined to IT enablement—they are business enablers, growth catalysts, and boardroom voices. CIO500 is our tribute to these unsung heroes,” said Mohapatra, addressing the audience.
AI Takes the Front Seat
The sessions kicked off with a thought-provoking presentation by Mr. Akash Sureka, Founder of TheNoah.ai, titled “AI is No Longer Just a Buzzword”. He illustrated how generative AI and LLMs are no longer futuristic ambitions but are already solving real-world enterprise problems, from customer service automation to predictive insights.
Following that, Forcepoint, TeamViewer, Checkpoint, and CyberArk took the stage for quick-fire solution spotlights, showcasing cybersecurity innovations, secure remote access tools, and enterprise protection frameworks tailored to India’s evolving IT threat landscape.
Panel 1: Balancing Innovation with Cost Control
One of the most insightful segments was the first panel discussion moderated by Srinivasa Rao Kesana, Head-SAP & IT at Rithwik Projects Ltd. Titled “Balancing Innovation with Cost Control”, this session explored how IT leaders are innovating within constrained budgets without compromising on agility or quality.
Panelists included:
- Prasad Tripurari, CTO, Ramoji Group IT
- Gaurav Duggal, Senior Vice President, Jio Platforms Limited
- Raj Kumar Patra, Global IT & Digital Transformation Leader, Reckitt
- John Joseph, Head – Cybersecurity, Perceptive Inc.
- Prashant Rallabandi, Partner – Market Ecosystems, Grant Thornton Bharat
The conversation revolved around agile vendor selection, ROI-driven cloud adoption, and internal upskilling to optimize cost-per-innovation. “Cost control doesn’t mean compromise. It means intelligent reallocation of digital priorities,” said Raj Kumar Patra.
Panel 2: Navigating Boardroom Expectations and Digital KPIs
The second panel, moderated by Aparna Sharma, Director, Market Ecosystems at Grant Thornton Bharat, focused on how CIOs are translating digital performance into boardroom metrics.
Panelists included:
- Anil Sharma, Senior Director & CTO – AMESA, PepsiCo
- Venkata Ramana Ratnakaram, CISO, Spandana Sphoorty Financial Limited
- Dileepkumar Mukundan, CISO, IFTAS
- Anil Nama, CIO, Cloud4C & CtrlS
They shared perspectives on aligning tech KPIs with shareholder value, cybersecurity readiness, and risk-informed tech investments. “In today’s boardrooms, every tech initiative needs to be tied to revenue or risk. That’s the new language of leadership,” noted Anil Sharma from PepsiCo.
Milestone Moment: SNS Celebrates 25 Years
A special highlight of the evening was the session by Mr. NK Mehta, MD & CEO of Secure Network Solutions India Pvt. Ltd., who shared the incredible 25-year journey of SNS. With over two decades in cybersecurity and managed security services, SNS has been a trusted partner to thousands of enterprises across India.
Mr. Mehta then energized the audience with an interactive Tech Quiz, giving away instant cash prizes to winners, which added a vibrant and engaging twist to the evening. The quiz was widely appreciated for mixing fun with tech knowledge.
“SNS has always stood for security, simplicity, and service. We’re proud to partner with CIO500 to honor India’s IT heroes,” said Mehta.
CIO500 Accelerator X Awards Ceremony
The finale of the evening was the much-awaited CIO Accelerator X Awards 2025 ceremony, where dozens of CIOs, CISOs, and IT Directors were felicitated for their contributions across domains such as banking, manufacturing, retail, IT/ITeS, healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
Each winner received a personalized trophy, certificate, and recognition in the CIO500 Hall of Fame. The emotional high point was the pride and camaraderie shared among peer leaders, many of whom have navigated post-pandemic digitization challenges with resilience and foresight.
Looking Ahead: Next Stops on the CIO500 Journey
The CIO500 & Accelerator X Awards 2025 now moves to Bangalore (1st August, Taj West End), followed by Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Delhi, and other strategic Indian cities, culminating in Mumbai and exclusive editions in Pune, Cochin, and Coimbatore.
Each city is curated to reflect regional tech leadership and sectoral diversity, ensuring that the voices of local CIOs and industry heads are heard, celebrated, and connected through a powerful pan-India platform.
Registration Still Open
Interested awardees and delegates from upcoming cities can register via:
Awardee Registration Form »
Delegate Registration Form »
Conclusion: Celebrating Tech Leadership in the Era of Growth
The Hyderabad edition of CIO500 & Accelerator X Awards 2025 successfully captured the pulse of enterprise IT in the heart of Telangana’s innovation corridor. From AI breakthroughs to boardroom alignment, the event offered both recognition and reflection, inspiring the next wave of digital change agents.
As India aims for exponential economic growth, its CIOs remain central to the country’s ambition—driving modernization, enabling scale, and securing tomorrow.
