Alumni News
Karunakaran Azhisur Appointed Country Head – India at Guardian Life
Karunakaran (Karun) Azhisur, an alumnus of IIM Bangalore’s PGPSEM Class of 2009, has been appointed Country Head – India at Guardian Life Insurance India Operations Private Limited, the global capability centre of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. In this expanded role, he will continue to serve as Chief Information Officer (CIO) while leading the organisation’s India operations.
With over two decades of experience across enterprise technology, digital transformation, and global delivery, Karun has held senior leadership roles spanning the U.S. and India. His work has focused on building high-performing teams, strengthening technology platforms, and driving large-scale transformation initiatives.
Arunkumar Pillai Appointed CEO of NSDC, to Lead India’s National Skilling Mission
Arunkumar Pillai, an alumnus of IIM Bangalore (PGP 2000), has taken charge as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), marking an important leadership transition in India’s skilling and workforce ecosystem. With close to three decades of experience spanning workforce strategy, institutional partnerships, policy design, and global engagement, he brings deep operational and strategic expertise to the role.
Prior to this appointment, Arunkumar served as Chief Strategy Officer at NSDC and as Director General and CEO of NAMTECH, alongside senior leadership roles in consulting and workforce development. As CEO, he will focus on strengthening programme outcomes, improving quality and accountability, and scaling future-ready skills aligned with emerging technologies. His appointment reflects IIM Bangalore alumni leadership in shaping national institutions and long-term public impact.
Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay Leads C-DOT to Global Recognition with IEEE SA Corporate Award
Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, an alumnus of IIM Bangalore’s PGPPM and PhD programmes, has been honoured with the IEEE Standards Association (SA) Corporate Award 2025 on behalf of the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), making it the first Indian organisation to receive this global recognition. The award acknowledges C-DOT’s contributions to international telecom standards and innovation.
As CEO and Executive Director of C-DOT, Dr. Upadhyay has played a key role in advancing India’s capabilities in wireless broadband, rural connectivity, and 5G technologies. His leadership has strengthened India’s voice in global standards-setting forums while aligning technology development with national priorities. The recognition underscores the growing influence of Indian institutions in shaping the future of communication technologies worldwide.
Karthik B. Reddy Receives Distinguished Alumnus Award from IIT Roorkee
Karthik B. Reddy (PGP 1996), an alumnus of IIM Bangalore, has been awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award (DAA) by IIT Roorkee in recognition of his significant contributions to India’s entrepreneurial and startup ecosystem. As Co-founder and Managing Partner of Blume Ventures, he has been instrumental in building one of India’s leading early-stage venture capital platforms.
Over the years, Karthik has supported and mentored numerous high-growth startups across sectors, helping founders navigate scale, strategy, and governance. Known for his founder-first approach, he has played a pivotal role in shaping India’s venture ecosystem during its formative years. The DAA from IIT Roorkee highlights both his professional excellence and his sustained impact on nurturing entrepreneurship and innovation in India.
Abhijit Roy Joins Business Today Distinguished Jury Panel
Abhijit Roy (PGP 1991), Managing Director and CEO of Berger Paints India Ltd., has been appointed to the Distinguished Jury Panel for Business Today’s industry awards. The invitation recognises his long-standing leadership and strategic influence within India’s manufacturing and consumer goods sector.
With a career spanning over three decades in the paints and coatings industry, Abhijit joined Berger Paints in 1996 and rose through leadership roles in sales, marketing, and business strategy before assuming the CEO role in 2012. Under his stewardship, the company has strengthened its market position through innovation, customer focus, and sustained growth. His role on the jury reflects his standing as a trusted industry voice and his contribution to shaping business leadership and governance in India.
Faculty Collaboration Explores Inclusive Strategy in Leading Management Journal
Prof. Shainesh G, Professor at IIM Bangalore and an alumnus of the Institute, recently edited an editorial article titled “Embracing the Atypicals to Solve Challenges of the 21st Century” in the Journal of Indian Business Research. The editorial was authored by Prof. Prateek Raj, former IIM Bangalore faculty member and currently Associate Professor at University College London.
The article examines the limitations of conventional shareholder-centric approaches and argues for embedding systematically overlooked stakeholders into organisational decision-making. By focusing on empathy, trust-based capabilities, innovation ecosystems, and stewardship of public goods, the piece presents a framework for more inclusive and sustainable strategy. The collaboration reflects the enduring intellectual ties between IIM Bangalore’s current and former faculty and reinforces the Institute’s role in shaping globally relevant management thought.
Samina Bano Advances AI-Driven Public Good through LSE Collaboration
Samina Bano (PGP 2010), Founder and CEO of RightWalk Foundation, is strengthening the organisation’s work at the intersection of technology and social impact through a collaboration with the London School of Economics. The initiative engages student researchers from LSE’s MSc Data Science programme to deepen the AI and data capabilities of RightWalk’s CitizenAI and ChaturAI platforms.
These platforms are designed to make public services more accessible and equitable, particularly for underserved communities. Building on RightWalk’s experience in education reform, apprenticeship pathways, and digital inclusion, the collaboration bridges academic research with field-level implementation. The initiative reflects a growing emphasis on responsible AI and data-driven public policy, and highlights how alumni-led organisations are leveraging global partnerships to strengthen social impact at scale.
Khet Singh Rajpurohit Named to Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia
Khet Singh Rajpurohit (PGP 2021) has been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2025 list for his work as Co-founder of ClaimBuddy, a healthtech startup addressing inefficiencies in health insurance claims. The recognition highlights his contribution to building technology-driven solutions in a complex and high-impact sector.
ClaimBuddy, incubated at NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore, focuses on simplifying the claims process for patients and hospitals through transparent workflows and data integration. The platform now supports hospitals across multiple cities and has helped thousands of patients navigate claims more effectively. Khet’s inclusion on the Forbes list reflects the growing presence of young IIM Bangalore alumni in entrepreneurship and their role in building scalable solutions with real-world impact.
Sunil Nataraj Summits Vinson Massif, Antarctica
Sunil Nataraj, an alumnus of IIM Bangalore, recently summited Vinson Massif in Antarctica—the highest peak on the continent and one of the most demanding climbs in the world. The expedition required navigating extreme cold, high altitude, and sustained physical and mental strain.
A seasoned mountaineer who has previously climbed Mount Everest and several other high-altitude peaks, Sunil’s journey reflects discipline, preparation, and resilience. Reflecting on the climb, he speaks about unlearning limiting narratives around age and comfort, and replacing them with focus and purpose. His achievement serves as a reminder that leadership is tested not only in professional settings, but also in environments that demand endurance, humility, and perseverance under the most challenging conditions.n his role as Chief Information Officer (CIO) while leading the organisation’s strategic growth and transformation initiatives in India.
With over two decades of leadership experience across enterprise technology, digital transformation, and AI-led innovation, Karun has held senior roles at global organisations including GE, VMware, and Cognizant. Based in Chennai and Gurugram, he will focus on strengthening leadership capability, scaling technology excellence, and advancing Guardian’s long-term vision for its India operations.
His appointment reflects both his professional depth and the growing leadership impact of IIM Bangalore alumni in global organisations.
IIM Bangalore Alumni Participate in Global CoBS Meetup in London
Alumni from IIM Bangalore joined peers from business schools across the world at a vibrant networking evening organised by the Council on Business & Society (CoBS)—a global alliance of 12 leading business schools, including IIMB. Hosted at the Warwick Business School premises at The Shard, London, the event provided a valuable opportunity for alumni to reconnect, exchange ideas, and build relationships across diverse professional and cultural contexts.
The evening featured an engaging presentation by Dr. Joanne Horton of Warwick Business School on “Ethics in Action: Navigating Fraud in the Modern Business Landscape.” Dr. Horton shared insights from her research, including a predictive model that uses financial and behavioural indicators to assess the likelihood of accounting fraud. Participants were also invited to collaborate in testing and applying the model for broader social impact.
Interactive breakout discussions encouraged thoughtful exchange, followed by informal networking over refreshments. The event underscored the strength of the CoBS network as a platform for global collaboration, ethical leadership, and responsible business practice, offering IIMB alumni continued access to international perspectives and thought leadership.
