Shri Ramanan Ramanathan is a distinguished leader in India’s innovation and technology ecosystem whose career reflects a deep commitment to driving large-scale transformation across government, industry, and entrepreneurship. A graduate in electrical engineering from IIT Bombay, he began his professional journey with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in 1981, where he served in key leadership roles over four decades and retired as senior vice president, helping the company expand its global footprint and capabilities. During his tenure, he also served as Managing Director & CEO of CMC Ltd, a TCS subsidiary, where his strategic guidance resulted in significant growth in market share, revenues, and global engagements, culminating in its successful amalgamation with TCS.

Ramanan’s broader vision for building ecosystems of innovation led him to public service when he was appointed as the first Mission Director of the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) under NITI Aayog in the rank of Additional Secretary to the Government of India. In this role from 2017 to 2021, he was instrumental in shaping and scaling AIM’s nationwide programs—establishing over 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs in schools, launching 75+ Atal Incubation Centres supporting thousands of startups, including many women-led ventures, creating Atal Community Innovation Centres in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, and nurturing one of the largest mentor networks in the country to inspire young innovators. His leadership helped embed innovation and entrepreneurial thinking into India’s education and enterprise landscape.

An alumnus of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Programme and accredited in Sustainability Leadership from Cambridge University, Ramanan has been honored with several prestigious recognitions, including the IIT Bombay Distinguished Alumnus Award, the Asia Outstanding CEO Award, the National Digitalist of the Year, and national public service honors, underlining his impact across sectors.

Beyond government and corporate leadership, he continues to contribute to the entrepreneurial ecosystem through advisory and board roles with initiatives such as India AI Mission’s Governing Board, Indo-US technology forums, educational incubation arms, and innovation councils, reflecting a lifelong dedication to building inclusive, sustainable, and scalable platforms for India’s next generation of innovators.