On August 17, CitiusTech announced a leadership change. Dhaval Shah will act as CEO, Shyam Karunakaran as President. Rajan Kohli will exit by the end of August 2026.
The change comes while CitiusTech is in talks with large IT firms such as Cognizant. These discussions were first reported in May 2026.
Shah has spent 19 years at the company. He was previously Chief Business Officer for MedTech and Life Sciences divisions.
Karunakaran joined 17 years ago. He led the Healthcare Payer and Platforms business before taking on a broader strategy role.
Kohli has said his departure will allow new leaders to drive growth. He thanked the team for building strong client relationships.
The transition follows a pre‑planned succession strategy. CitiusTech says the move reflects confidence in its existing leadership.
FY26 results were strong, placing the firm in the top quartile among technology services companies. Growth momentum is expected to continue into FY27.
Demand for healthcare‑specific AI solutions is rising. Clients are increasingly applying AI to real‑world medical challenges.
Chairman Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr. praised the company's long‑term success and leadership team. He highlighted deep healthcare expertise and trusted client relationships.
Kohli reflected on his tenure, noting strategic partnerships and brand visibility. He emphasized the foundation built in AI.
Shah said the focus will be on integrating intelligence into healthcare operations. He aims to position CitiusTech as a leader in AI services.
Karunakaran highlighted the three‑layer AI stack: Engineering, Intelligence, and Agentic layers. He believes the company is uniquely positioned to win across these layers.
CitiusTech offers digital and enterprise AI services to healthcare and life sciences firms. It employs more than 7,700 professionals worldwide and serves over 140 enterprises.
The company remains committed to delivering AI‑driven outcomes for its clients while navigating potential acquisitions and continued growth.