Tata Communications names new leaders for network & cloud

Tata Communications has appointed Rupesh Chokshi and Vivek Srivastava to senior leadership roles. Both will join the company's Global Management Committee.

Chokshi has been named Executive Vice President, Global Business Head - Network Services and Chief Technology Officer. Srivastava will become Executive Vice President, Business Head - Cloud & Cyber Security Services.

The appointments come as Tata Communications expands its focus on network, cloud and cybersecurity operations. Chokshi will lead the Network Services business, while Srivastava will oversee the cloud and cybersecurity portfolio.

Chokshi joins from Akamai Technologies, where he most recently served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Application Security. He previously held senior leadership roles at AT&T and brings more than 25 years of experience across networking, cloud connectivity, cybersecurity and software-defined infrastructure.

At Tata Communications, he will oversee product strategy and the development of its global network infrastructure. He will also work across network innovation and operations as demand grows from businesses adopting artificial intelligence and cloud services.

Srivastava joins from Fortinet, where he serves as Country Manager for India and the SAARC region. He brings more than 27 years of experience in cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure and digital transformation, with earlier roles at CrowdStrike, Cisco and IBM.

In his new role, he will lead the expansion of Tata Communications' cloud and cybersecurity business, including services for enterprise and government customers seeking to combine cloud adoption with stronger security controls.

The appointments add external leadership to two areas that have become central to telecoms and digital infrastructure providers, as customers look to network operators for broader technology services. Tata Communications operates in more than 190 countries and territories, serves 300 Fortune 500 companies, and connects businesses to 80% of the world's major cloud providers.

The company has also been investing in its network footprint. It recently expanded subsea cable infrastructure on the India-Singapore route, an increasingly important corridor for regional data traffic and digital services.

Ganesh Lakshminarayanan, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Tata Communications, commented on the leadership changes.

"I am delighted to welcome both Rupesh and Vivek to the team as we strengthen our leadership bench to drive innovation and growth. Rupesh's expertise in next-generation networks and AI-led infrastructure, along with Vivek's strong leadership in cloud and cybersecurity, will further enhance our ability to serve as the operating backbone for enterprise AI needs," said Ganesh Lakshminarayanan, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Tata Communications.

For Tata Communications, the hires point to a broader effort to deepen management in businesses beyond traditional connectivity. Telecoms groups have been under pressure to capture more spending from corporate customers in areas such as cloud integration, managed security and digital infrastructure, rather than relying only on bandwidth and transport services.

That context is reflected in Chokshi's background. His experience spans product, engineering and operations roles across large enterprise and carrier environments, suggesting a focus on combining network infrastructure with software and security management.

Chokshi said the company's global network gives it a platform for the next stage of enterprise technology demand.

"Tata Communications has built one of the world's most advanced global networks. As enterprises accelerate AI and cloud adoption, the need for agile, secure, and high-performance connectivity has never been greater. I am excited to build on this incredible foundation, work with a world-class team, and drive the next phase of innovation and growth," he said.

Srivastava's appointment reflects the same shift on the security side. Businesses are increasing spending on cyber defence as they move more workloads to cloud environments and manage a wider spread of users, devices and applications across regions.

He has worked across cyber, AI security, post-quantum cryptography and digital infrastructure. That breadth is likely to be relevant as enterprises reassess how security is built into their networks and cloud estates, rather than treated as a separate layer.

"The next era of enterprise transformation will be defined by how effectively organisations harness cloud, AI, and intelligent digital infrastructure while embedding security and resilience at the core. Tata Communications has built a unique strategic position in enabling this transformation globally, and I am excited to help shape and accelerate this journey of growth and innovation," said Srivastava.