Cognizant Promotes Six Women to Senior VP Roles, Setting an Example for Gender Representation in the Tech Industry

By: WE Staff | Thursday, 20 July 2023

In a crucial step towards promoting gender diversity and leadership opportunities for women, Cognizant, a leading global technology company, has appointed six women leaders to senior vice president roles. Four of these promotions are from within the company, while two are external hires, including returning employees. The move showcases Cognizant's commitment to building a diverse and inclusive organization that empowers women in their careers.

The newly appointed Senior Vice Presidents will be instrumental in driving growth and innovation across various crucial departments within the company. Sailaja Josyula, now the SVP of intuitive operations & automation (IOA) for the banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) industry, will lead commercial markets in North America and global delivery. She also holds the position of head of the Hyderabad center, one of Cognizant's largest delivery centers, with over 56,000 associates.

Archana Ramanakumar, who rejoined Cognizant as SVP of the industry solutions group (ISG), brings her expertise back to the company after briefly moving to LTI and LTI Mindtree. Elisa de Rocca-Serra has been promoted as SVP of EMEA general counsel and contract lifecycle risk management (CLRM), taking on the responsibility of managing commercial risk throughout the entire client contract lifecycle.

Patricia (Trish) Hunter-Dennehy, now SVP of the healthcare provider/payor business unit, will oversee revenue cycle management, clearinghouse businesses, hospitals, health systems, and health tech companies. Sandra Natardonato has joined Cognizant as SVP of partnerships and alliances, leveraging her extensive experience from 15 years at Gartner and 11 years with various professional services firms as a senior equity analyst.

Thea Hayden takes on the role of SVP of global marketing, leading the team responsible for the Cognizant brand, design, creative services, social media, thought leadership, and research.

Cognizant's CEO, Ravi Kumar S, is vocal about the company's commitment to creating an inclusive work environment that fosters diversity and empowers women. He believes that advancing diversity should be woven into all aspects of the organization, from recruitment to talent development and retention. The recent appointments reflect the company's efforts to promote existing talent and acknowledge their contributions to the company's success.

Industry experts laud Cognizant's progressive approach to gender representation in the technology sector. Hansa Iyengar, a senior principal analyst at Omdia in London, notes that the tech industry has historically lacked female representation in higher management positions. By elevating talented women to senior VP roles, Cognizant sets a positive example for other companies to create a more equitable and progressive workplace.

Phil Fersht, CEO of HfS Research, praises Ravi Kumar's focus on assessing internal talent for leadership positions, which aligns with the company's strategy of nurturing existing employees and recognizing their contributions. By prioritizing the development of existing talent, Cognizant aims to fuel its future growth and success.

Cognizant's commitment to gender diversity is evident in its workforce composition, with women making up 38.3% globally and 39.3% in India. The company's board also demonstrates gender equity, with almost a third of its directors being women. In tier-2 cities like Coimbatore, Mangaluru, Cochin, and Mysuru, Cognizant boasts over 50% of women employees, reaffirming its dedication to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Cognizant's recent promotion of Meera Krishnamurthy to lead the banking and financial services sector earlier this year further underscores its efforts to provide leadership opportunities to talented women within the organization.

The appointments of six women to senior VP roles serve as an inspiring example for the technology industry and beyond, promoting gender representation and empowering women in leadership positions. Cognizant's continued commitment to gender equity is a testament to its dedication to fostering an inclusive and thriving work environment.