Indian IT major Sify Technologies has appointed Ajay Kumar, former Defence Secretary of India, as a director on the board. This appointment comes as three of the company’s long-serving directors, T H Chowdary, MC B Mouli and C E S Azariah, step down upon completing their tenures.
“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Kumar on board. I am convinced that his vast experience across multiple industries will add value to both our business strategy and corporate governance,” said Raju Vegesna, Sify Chairman.
Kumar, an Indian Administrative Service Officer (IAS) from the 1985 Kerala cadre, has had a distinguished career. He last served as Defence Secretary for the Government of India, where he significantly impacted the defence industry ecosystem.
Between 2017 and 2022, he was pivotal in nurturing the defence startup ecosystem through initiatives like Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX).
Before his tenure in the Defence Ministry, Kumar played a crucial role in the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), where he had one of the longest tenures as Joint Secretary and later as Additional Secretary.
From 2010 to 2017, he led several key initiatives under the Digital India programme, including Aadhaar, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), and Jeevan Pramaan. According to several current and former employees of National Informatics Centre (NIC), an e-goverance arm of MeitY, his contributions were instrumental in modernising India’s digital infrastructure and services.
During his stint as Defence Secretary from 2019 to 2022, Kumar worked to enhance the performance of Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs). He also promoted startups in the emerging sectors of drones and space technology between 2020 and 2021.
As Principal Secretary of Information Technology in Kerala, he was instrumental in pushing innovation in e-governance and startup promotion. Upon his superannuation, Kerala government appointed him as an advisor for electronics development projects under the State Industries Department.
Kumar holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota. He also earned a PhD in Business Administration from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.
Following his retirement, he has served as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, contributing to the Departments of Management Sciences and Economic Sciences.
“It gives me immense pleasure to join the Board of Sify Technologies Limited. Uniquely positioned, Sify stands out with its converged ecosystem of Networks, Data Centres, and Digital tools. Over the years, they have also built a strong reputation for corporate governance,” Kumar said.
Sify Technologies, a digital ICT solutions provider in India, has a significant global presence. The company offers a comprehensive range of services, including Data Centre solutions, Cloud services, Network and Security solutions, and Digital services.
The addition of Kumar to the board is expected to bolster Sify’s strategic direction and governance, leveraging his extensive experience in both technology and policy domains. His appointment aligns with Sify’s commitment to strengthening its leadership team and enhancing its service offerings to meet the dynamic needs of its clients, according to a senior executive.
