CXOToday has engaged in an excusive interview with Praveen Grover, Managing Director and Vice President, AHEAD
1-AHEAD has recently set up a dedicated service delivery office in Gurgaon. Could you tell me the reason behind the company’s entry into India and what opportunities you foresee moving ahead?
AHEAD’s recent move to establish a dedicated service delivery office in Gurgaon is a key step in our strategic growth plan. We believe that building capabilities in India is crucial for our growth trajectory, enabling us to quickly scale and meet the unique demands of our enterprise clients.
India, especially Gurugram, was a natural choice due to its educated tech workforce, language capabilities, stable currency, and top-notch infrastructure. Being a long-term business partner of the United States, we share democratic values, English as the primary language, a free-market ethos, and a commitment to the rule of law.
By the end of 2024, we plan to employ hundreds of associates in AHEAD India, strengthening our presence in the region. Our goal is to support the build-out of capabilities in managed services, digital solutions, security, data center, network, and enterprise service management, providing larger, more complex services with flexible cost structures and “follow-the-sun” support.
2-What are the focus areas for the company in India?
To make an extraordinary impact on our industry, our clients, and each other. We are building a game-changer in tech, combining the best of consultants, systems integrators, outsourcers, and platforms into something more holistic and valuable – something incomparable.
AHEAD India’s focus areas align with our global objectives, emphasizing efficient project team organization, quality control, and an enhanced client experience. We are dedicated to strengthening capabilities in managed services, digital solutions, security, data center, network, and enterprise service management. Gurugram, within the Delhi NCR region, serves as our flagship location due to its high talent availability, moderate salary costs, and favourable business environment.
Our focus on building a unified team and culture in India, aligned with US practices, ensures a seamless client experience, and allows us to expand and diversify our talent pool, making each team member’s career with us the most impactful of their life.
3-What has given rise to the demand for digital solutions across enterprises in various sectors?
The increasing demand for digital solutions across enterprises is a response to the evolving business landscape. AHEAD recognizes this shift and is poised to deliver tailored programs addressing specific IT needs. Our approach ensures the delivery of services directly relevant to business objectives, making AHEAD a customer-centric enterprise extension, aligning with the culture of AHEAD in the US.
4-What are your hiring plans for India and in what roles you are planning to hire?
AHEAD India’s growth plan includes hiring hundreds of associates by the end of 2024. We are focused on roles spanning managed services, digital solutions, security, data center, network, and enterprise service management. Our hiring strategy is aligned with the unique demands of our clients, providing meaningful and impactful career opportunities to employees.
5-Cyber security is emerging as a major threat in the digital landscape. What solutions are AHEAD providing to combat it?
Cybersecurity is a critical concern in today’s digital landscape. AHEAD is committed to addressing this challenge by providing robust cybersecurity solutions. Our approach includes personalized solutions for businesses, ensuring the delivery of services directly aligned with clients’ security objectives. Our solutions encompass automated asset discovery, file integrity monitoring, intrusion detection, event correlation, vulnerability assessment, forensics, log management, compliance reporting, dark web monitoring, user activity monitoring, endpoint detection, response, and security orchestration.
6-What distinguishes AHEAD’s approach to managed IT services from its competitors?
AHEAD’s approach to managed IT services sets us apart from competitors. Operating a Captive Centre in India, our AHEAD India employees are fully badged AHEADians, fostering a unified team and culture for a seamless client experience. Our commitment extends to not outsourcing to third-party service providers, providing stability and reliability in our operations.
Our ability to accelerate change and drive meaningful business results make us the most trusted and irreplaceable partner to clients.
7-What is AHEAD’s vision for future acceleration?
AHEAD’s vision for future acceleration is deeply rooted in our commitment to impactful change and sustained business results. Our brand essence revolves around the powerful combination of two words: Impact and Speed. We firmly believe in not just embracing technology for its own sake but, more importantly, in delivering tangible, defensible, and enduring business outcomes for our clients.
As our clients embark on their digital transformation journeys, the common sentiment is a sense of urgency. They acknowledge the need to transform rapidly to stay competitive, whether driven by innovation, security, cost savings, flexibility, or a blend of these factors. AHEAD stands uniquely positioned to propel them forward at an accelerated pace.
Our vision is twofold: To make an extraordinary impact on our industry, our clients, and each other, and to serve as a catalyst for accelerated change. We are in the process of crafting a technological game-changer that amalgamates the expertise of consultants, systems integrators, outsourcers, and platforms into a holistic and incomparable entity.
The heart of our future acceleration lies in becoming the most trusted and irreplaceable partner to our clients. This involves not only enhancing profitability and customer value but also actively engaging in strategic best shoring, particularly in our India Center of Excellence (COE). Through this, we aim to offer more than just services; we aim to provide meaningful career opportunities that have a lasting impact on our team members’ lives.
In line with our vision, we are committed to challenging our team members to solve complex problems and empowering them to learn and apply new ideas not only in their work but also within their communities. By investing in the experience of our employees and fostering a collaborative team culture, AHEAD is dedicated to attracting, growing, and retaining top talent, thereby propelling our future growth to extraordinary heights.
