Launching Chennai Chapter, Emerging Tech Leaders Forum Now In South India

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B Swaminathan

Chennai: Emerging Tech Leaders (ETL), India’s rapidly growing community of enterprise technology leaders, has expanded its wings in South India by launching the Chennai Chapter. By bringing together CIOs, CISOs, CTOs, CDOs, industry leaders, technology experts, and business professionals at a recent event, the forum marked its official entry through a maiden gathering full of thought leadership, collaboration, networking, and knowledge sharing.

The newly formed ETL Chennai Chapter Management Committee brings together seasoned technology leaders from across the city’s enterprise landscape. Leading the chapter as President is Gokulavan Jayaraman, Infosec Leader at Mahindra & Mahindra, supported by Ajith Joel Peter, AGM IT at The Ramco Cement Ltd, who takes on the role of Secretary. Satheesh Babu K, Deputy General Manager for Infrastructure & Cloud at Challani Jewellery, serves as Treasurer, rounding out the core office bearers. The Executive Committee is further strengthened by Santhosh Kumar, AGM IT at Koito Manufacturing Ltd; Bharathidasan GD, General Manager IT at Lifecell International Pvt Ltd; and Satish Palani, Head of Enterprise IT Services at Panasonic Appliances India Pvt Ltd. Together, this committee reflects a strong cross-section of manufacturing, cement, jewellery, healthcare, and consumer electronics enterprises, positioning the Chennai Chapter to drive meaningful engagement among the city’s growing community of technology leaders.

“Chennai has long been a foundational powerhouse for global enterprise engineering, GCC, and technology. Chennai is building the future of autonomous technology, resilient cyber defences, and AI-native business models right here from Tamil Nadu,” says Gokulavan Jayaraman, the first President of the Chennai Chapter.

“The launch of the ETL chapter in Chennai is more than just an inaugural event, it is a commitment to our tech community. Our primary mission is to bridge the gap between rapid tech innovation and executive readiness. We are creating an active, high-signal environment where senior technology leaders, enterprise architects, and emerging visionaries can collaborate, share battle-tested operational frameworks, and lead with absolute confidence in an era defined by disruptive technology.”

The event commenced with an opening address by Rajesh Panchal, Governing Board Member, who introduced the ETL Governing Board and shared the organisation’s vision and mission of building a vibrant national community of emerging technology leaders. This was followed by the inaugural ceremony and traditional lamp lighting by the ETL Governing Board along with the Chennai Chapter office bearers. A key highlight of the evening was the keynote address by Tony Thomas on “The Future CIO – Driving Business Growth in the Age of AI,” where he shared his perspectives on the evolving role of technology leaders in enabling business growth through artificial intelligence, digital innovation, and enterprise transformation.

The event also featured an inspiring session by Dr Abhishaanth Prabhu on “Wellness in the Digital Age,” emphasising the importance of maintaining physical and mental wellbeing while leading organisations through rapid technological change.

Delegates also witnessed a live demonstration of the ETL website and member platform, providing an overview of the forum’s digital initiatives and member engagement ecosystem. Throughout the evening, leading technology partners showcased their latest solutions through dedicated exhibition stalls, enabling members to interact directly with technology experts and explore emerging innovations. Interactive networking sessions and lucky draw activities further enhanced delegate engagement.

Addressing the gathering, Radhakrishna Pillai, Founder & Governing Board Member, Emerging Tech Leaders (ETL), said: “Our vision extends beyond networking, we are creating a collaborative platform where experienced CIOs mentor emerging leaders, exchange best practices, foster innovation, and collectively shape the future of enterprise technology. The enthusiastic response from Chennai reinforces the growing need for such a community that connects technology leaders across industries and regions.”

Job Vacancy page:

ETL forum also introduced a job vacancy post which is open for the industry. Whatsoever tech job, a recruiter wants to post, the website would be of use. However, the viewing option would be limited to the members.

Event Testimonials:

Bharathidasan GD recalled that the ETL Chennai launch event maintained an excellent pace, with the inaugural formalities kept concise, allowing more time for meaningful interactions among industry peers and technology partners. “The exhibition area was thoughtfully planned, providing attendees with ample opportunity to engage with solution providers without feeling rushed. The participating technology partners were highly relevant, addressing the evolving priorities of CIOs, CISOs, and IT leaders.”

Balaji Seshan of Hexaware called the initiative an excellent platform for emerging leaders to share their thoughts and best practices periodically. He noted that the thoughtfully designed exhibition area gave attendees plenty of unhurried time to connect with relevant tech partners who truly understood the pressing priorities of today’s CIOs, CISOs, DPOs, and IT leaders.

Sathyaprabha G, Senior Manager at Fractal, welcomed the opportunity to connect with industry leaders, technology partners, and fellow professionals. “While exchanging ideas and exploring innovative solutions driving digital transformation, I am equally excited to contribute to the success of the ETL Chennai Chapter by supporting and collaborating on its upcoming initiatives and events.”

The event also highlighted ETL’s growing national presence, with active chapters in Mumbai, Pune, Gujarat, and Chennai, reflecting the organisation’s commitment to building a strong leadership network across India. The evening concluded with a vote of thanks by Tejas Shah, who expressed gratitude to the speakers, chapter committee, sponsors, technology partners, volunteers, and participants for making the Chennai Chapter launch a resounding success.

The Chennai Chapter launch was supported by leading technology partners, including Precision Infomatic (M) Private Limited (Title Sponsor), Prophaze, Felix Infotech Pvt Ltd, Sophos, Questa Software Systems Pvt Ltd, Ping Identity, TBot Systems, TechOwl, ASUS, Econz Cloud, Google Cloud, VSecure Networks, and SentinelOne, whose continued support reflects their commitment to advancing technology leadership and innovation in India.

Since its national launch in March 2026, ETL has witnessed remarkable growth, expanding through chapters across Mumbai, Pune, Gujarat, and Chennai. The forum continues to provide a collaborative platform for CIOs, CISOs, CTOs, CDOs, and emerging technology leaders to network, learn, mentor, and contribute to India’s digital transformation journey.

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