The appointment comes as Avanade expands its presence in India following its market entry in December 2025. The company has positioned India as an important market for its AI, cloud and Microsoft-focused business.
Kataria will oversee Avanade’s India operations and business strategy. His mandate includes working with clients, partners and employees as the company builds its local business and expands its technology services in the country.
Before joining Avanade, Kataria was Vice President and Country Head of India at Cognizant, where he also handled large deals for the Asia-Pacific and Japan region. Cognizant’s own website has previously identified him in that role.
Kataria has more than three decades of experience in technology services and enterprise transformation. Before Cognizant, he held leadership roles at EXL and Tech Mahindra, with earlier experience at Genpact and Hughes Software Systems.
The leadership change comes at a significant stage for Avanade in India. The company entered the market in December 2025, citing growing demand for AI-enabled transformation, cloud modernisation and Microsoft-based enterprise technology. Its initial India presence includes Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi.
Kataria has also been closely associated with enterprise AI and cloud discussions during his tenure at Cognizant. In 2025, he spoke about the growing role of generative AI, cloud partnerships and outcome-based technology deals in enterprise transformation.
His move to Avanade therefore places an experienced India technology executive at the centre of the company’s next phase of expansion in the country, particularly as enterprises move from AI experimentation towards wider deployment.
Avanade operates closely with Microsoft and Accenture, giving its India business access to a broader technology and consulting ecosystem.
