The CIO Association, established in 2008 as a non-profit organization for Chief Information Officers, aims to facilitate significant technological transformation throughout India. Today marks the celebration of the 7th Anniversary of its Kolkata Chapter with the event CIO Futurescape 2026, occurring in Kolkata. This gathering will bring together more than 180 CIOs and senior digital leaders from various parts of the country.
The event will bring together over 180 CIOs and senior digital leaders from across the country. CIO Futurescape 2026 will be inaugurated by Mr Manish Prasad, President & MD, SAP India and Mr Raju Vegesna, CMD, Sify Technologies. They will be accompanied by Dr Sandip Pradhan, President of CIOA Kolkata Chapter, CDIO, Century Plyboards, Sanjeev Sinha, Treasurer, President – IT & D, India Power, Sanjay Goswami, Secretary, CISO of Century Plyboards, Samrat Banerjee, Vice President, CIO Emami., Pampa Basu, Jt Secretary, Ex-Senior Director, ITC Infotech, Rajesh Dutta, MC Member, Head – IT, JMS Mining, Avaneesh Kumar, MC Member, Head – IT, Skipper, Kripadyuti Sarkar, MC Member, Group CIO, AmbujaNeotia, and Rishikesh Kr Singh, MC Member, VP – IT at Grasim Industries, Surajit Banerjee, MC Member, DhunseriPolyfilms.
Speaking to the media, Dr Sandip Pradhan, President of the CIO Association Kolkata Chapter, said: “CIO Futurescape 2026 reflects a decisive shift—from discussing technology to leading with it. In 2026, AI is no longer experimental; it is a leadership responsibility. Through this platform, CIOs are coming together to shape responsible, secure, and scalable AI adoption that delivers real business outcomes. Our focus is not tools, but impact.”
The CIO Association continues to serve as a national platform for knowledge sharing, peer collaboration, and leadership development, enabling digital leaders to exchange insights on emerging technologies and enterprise transformation. Governed by a Central Governing Body and Chapter Councils, the CIO Association today operates 19 chapters across India and internationally, with Indian chapters in Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi NCR, Goa, Gujrat, Hyderabad, Kerala, Kolkata, Madhya Pradesh, Mumbai, Nagpur, Punjab, Pune, Rajasthan, and international chapters in Bangladesh, Dubai (UAE), Indonesia, and the Philippines.
The Kolkata Chapter of the CIO Association plays a unique role by extending technology leadership beyond enterprises into societal and regional development. Covering the entire eastern region of India, the chapter actively contributes to: • AI and digital skills development through industry–academia collaboration • Cybersecurity awareness and resilience initiatives • Startup and innovation ecosystem engagement • Responsible technology adoption aligned with public interest Through these initiatives, the Kolkata Chapter has positioned the region as a credible hub for enterprise AI leadership and digital transformation, while supporting national priorities such as Digital India, Make in India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
