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Event

Shaping the Future of Technology with AI Everywhere Take Center Stage at the 13th Big CIO Show 

The 13th edition of the Big CIO Show, an event by Trescon in Bengaluru in collaboration with Intel as the Innovation Partner, brought together industry leaders, innovators, and C-level executives who shared their knowledge and experience on the transformative power of AI. The event divulged insights and actionable strategies in AI to help enterprises stay ahead in the rapidly changing tech landscape. 

In an era where technological advancements are integral to staying competitive, Intel unlocked possibilities with silicon, software, and services, bringing AI Everywhere. Intel’s unmatched portfolio of AI products to enable customers’ AI solutions everywhere reinforced the importance of AI in shaping the future of technology and showcased how businesses can benefit and accelerate in the intelligence era.

This strategic focus was underscored at the Big CIO Show, which reshaped India’s AI landscape with insightful panels and successful use case showcases, fostering vital collaborations. The event highlighted AI capabilities to streamline workflows and drive innovation, solidifying its role as a transformative force in enterprise technology.

Top of Form

During the event, Intel’s pivotal role as an innovation partner and thought leader in AI was highlighted. Saumer Kumar Phukan, Director, Head of Customer & Partner Engineering, Intel India, presented a keynote on “Bringing AI Everywhere,” emphasizing Intel’s mission to democratize AI through engineered platforms, secure solutions, and open ecosystems to help customers win in this era of exponential AI growth. With Intel’s partnership, the event aimed to drive discussions on AI investments and their profound impact on enterprise transformation.

In addition to Saumer’s keynote, the event featured a diverse range of sessions, including panel discussions led by industry experts. One of the most thought-provoking and engaging sessions at the event was the panel discussion titled ‘Putting AI to Work’. The panel, moderated by Rajkumar Ayyella, Chief Information Officer, RPG Group – KEC International Limited, deliberated on practical strategies for harnessing AI’s potential in business operations.

Sangeeta Roy, Director of Software & Services Partner Business, Intel India, along with fellow panellists Priya Krishnamurthy, Director of Commercial Sales, Acer India; Srinivaschary T, Senior Principal Engineer, Enterprise Technologist, Dell Technologies; Ranganath Sadasiva, Chief Technology Officer, Hewlett Packard Enterprise; and Srinivas Rao, Head of Presales India & SAARC, Lenovo ISG India & SAARC, discussed the various facets of AI implementation. The discussion ranged from conducting thorough business process assessments to developing tailored AI solutions, integrating hybrid AI architectures, ensuring ethical AI practices, and exploring the synergy between quantum computing and AI algorithms.

Another insightful highlight was the panel discussion on “Cloud Evolution: Harnessing Data, Edge, and Innovation for Tomorrow’s Infrastructure”. The panellists included Venkat Krishnan, CIO, Karnataka Bank; Monish Kaul, CTPO, Zivame; and Neeraj Chopra, CTPO, Walmart India. The panellists together explored how data cloud solutions are simplifying data challenges and boosting analytics while discussing use cases of cloud, edge and data cloud implementation.

The tech talks and panel discussions at the event delved into critical topics such as AI-driven customer experience, edge computing solutions, and the real-world impact of intelligent automation. Notable panellists included Kirti Patil, CTO, Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company Limited; Krishnan Venkateswaran, Chief Digital & Information Officer, Titan Company Ltd; and Shruti Kashyap, CIO, Hindustan Unilever; among others. The discussions emphasized comprehensive AI strategies for enterprises to thrive in the rapidly changing tech landscape.

Furthermore, the event culminated in the prestigious Big CIO Awards ceremony, honouring top leaders and innovators in the tech industry for their exceptional contributions to innovation and excellence, facilitated by Intel.

Naveen Bharadwaj, the Group CEO of Trescon, expressed, “This year, we’ve observed a significant 35% increase in IT investment budgets year-over-year, as reported by our delegates. This uptick has directly influenced our strategic agenda, ensuring it aligns with the evolving solutions and services sought by our participants. We are dedicated to advancing our community’s objectives by continually facilitating effective deal flow between vendors and decision-makers on the buy side. Our commitment is to support our ecosystem in achieving its mandates through intelligent and strategic collaborations.”

In conclusion, the 13th Big CIO Show, with Intel as the Innovation Partner, provided a platform to enable customers’ AI solutions everywhere. Intel’s leadership in AI innovation and addressing the evolving AI landscape to bring AI everywhere put a spotlight on its expansive AI footprint, spanning cloud and enterprise servers to networks, volume clients and ubiquitous edge environments, shaping the future of technology in India.

The 13th edition of the Big CIO Show is supported by:  

Innovation Partner: Intel  
Gold Partner: ManageEngine, Whatfix 
Silver Partner: Nividous 
Bronze Partner: NeoSOFT, Pearson VUE, Zvlov, Magure 
Official Digital News Partners: CNBC TV18, Money Control  
Official Print Media Partner: Business Standard 

by Vivek Kumar

W7Worldwide proudly announces that Abdulrahman Inayat has been recognized as PR Leader of the Year at the prestigious Athar Festival 2025, in a category presented in association with the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO) — the global representative body for PR associations and consultancies. Representing the world’s leading PR consultancies and national associations across more than 80 countries, ICCO serves as the global voice of the public relations industry. This recognition underscores Inayat’s exceptional leadership and W7Worldwide’s continued contribution to advancing the communications landscape across Saudi Arabia, the MENA region, and international markets. “This achievement is not only personal; it reflects the collective dedication of our W7Worldwide team and the transformation we are witnessing across the Saudi communication landscape,” said Abdulrahman Inayat . “We are proud to contribute to shaping a globally competitive PR industry that mirrors Vision 2030’s ambition and creativity.” This honor adds to a recent series of distinctions recognizing Abdulrahman Inayat’s leadership in the communications sector. He was previously elected Chairman of the Regional Board of the International Public Relations Network (IPRN) for the Middle East and North Africa. He also made history as the youngest board member of PRCA MENA and was presented with the Outstanding Leadership Award, further underscoring his influence across the regional marketing and communications landscape. Meanwhile, W7Worldwide has received over 30 awards in recent years across local, regional, and global platforms, being recognized among the leading communications consultancies in the region. “Abdulrahman’s recognition as PR Leader of the Year exemplifies the excellence and ambition driving the Middle East’s creative marketing and communications community forward,” said Ian Fairservice, Chairman of Motivate Media Group and Festival Co-Founder. W7Worldwide has evolved into one of the region’s most respected homegrown communications consultancies, earning international acclaim for its strategic thinking, innovative storytelling, and deep cultural understanding. The agency continues to lead the way in positioning Saudi and MENA communications excellence on the global stage. About W7Worldwide W7Worldwide is a homegrown, award-winning communications consultancy known for its strategic insights, thought leadership, and culturally grounded storytelling. With a proven track record of partnering with more than 100 clients across diverse sectors, the firm has built deep expertise in reputation management and strategic communication, helping organizations strengthen trust and visibility. Operating across the MENA region and international markets, W7Worldwide continues to elevate Saudi communications leadership on the global stage.

by Vivek Kumar

The inaugural edition of CARE (Climate Action, Renewable Energy & Sustainability) forum series by Trescon, is set to become the MENA region’s most influential platform for sustainability investment and climate innovation. The forum will unite regional and global leaders driving the Middle East’s clean energy transition. Co-located with DATE, a Digitization, AI & Emerging Tech Summit, CARE MENA will take place on 26-27 November at the iconic Madinat Jumeirah. “With the GCC committing billions to renewable infrastructure, CARE MENA offers a unique, action-oriented platform where capital meets climate ambition,” said Naveen Bharadwaj, Group CEO, Trescon. He continued, “From solar and hydrogen to green finance and industrial decarbonisation, the series will spotlight investable opportunities that support net-zero goals and drive regional climate action.” Talking about the series, Jens Y. Zimmermann, President, Orios Venture Partners, said, “Looking forward to CARE and learning more about new developments, trends & investment opportunities in climate & renewable energy.”  For start-ups, scale-ups and climate tech ventures, CARE MENA is a launchpad and a great opportunity to secure investments.  “I’m looking forward to CARE as a platform to uncover investment opportunities in climate tech and renewables,” said Kevin Holliday, CEO, Venturebeam. Ahmed Refaie, CEO & Global CIO, G.P.I. Global Partners Investments Limited said, “CARE gives an opportunity for climate finance and investment practicing professionals to deploy capital in an environmentally impactful and responsible way.” Whether seeking Series A investment, strategic partnerships or market access, participants will gain direct exposure to venture capital firms, institutional investors, family offices, and sovereign funds. Backed by some of the region’s most prominent investors — from the Royal Group and Sharjah Investment & Development Authority (Shurooq) to ARM Holding, Venturesouq, Plug and Play, and others — CARE MENA is set to spark high impact collaborations. Talking about the opportunities at CARE, Sofia Kostiunina, Managing Director, 100VP commented, “From the VC perspective, I see CARE as an excellent platform to identify breakthrough opportunities in renewable energy and climate tech.” Flagship initiatives include: CARE ESG Awards, hosted by Trescon and supported by ESG MENA, will also spotlight and celebrate the “Responsible Investor of the Year” and the “Young Sustainability Pioneer of the Year”. Sessions at the summit will explore regulatory reform, capital flows and technology deployment, with a sharp focus on commercial viability and regional scalability. With the help of its sponsors including Emtribe, Cero Hero, Enjazponic, S&P Global and others, CARE MENA will also feature investor roundtables, pitch sessions and partnership forums — ensuring that conversations lead to commitments. For founders, it’s a chance to pitch to decision-makers. For corporates, it’s a front-row seat to the next wave of green innovation. And for investors, it’s access to the region’s most promising ventures and infrastructure projects.

by Vivek Kumar

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