Amitabh Apte

Part of the IT Leaders 100 - a list of the most influential IT leaders in the UK in 2023.

Amitabh is a global CIO with a successful track-record of delivering people-centric business, data and technology transformations across a range of industries (aviation, travel, transport, banking, retail and FMCG/CPG) over more than two decades. Since 2018 he has led IT in Mars' Pet Nutrition division, where he leads the digitisation efforts for multiple teams, as well as overseeing channel growth and e-commerce foundations.

How did you get into IT?

I am formally educated in IT through my bachelors and masters degrees in Computer Science. Since then I have grown into the IT profession with analyst programmer roles, steadily moving into Architecture, CTO and now CIO roles.

How do you ensure diversity is taken into account in your IT recruitment?

Diversity is an integral part of what we do, not just recruitment but in all aspects of people, talent, technology and process management. We put this at the heart of everything we do because it's the right thing to do; it's better for us an organisation, employees and society in which we operate at large.

Which technology are you currently most excited by?

The rapid progress in the field of AI is the clear front-runner due to obvious advances and advantages to my business. I am equally excited by the promise of digital manufacturing, smart factories and robotics in supply chain. The evolution of CRM into CDP and benefits to our consumer data strategy is also of great importance and interest to me.

What would an outsider find the most surprising part of your job?

Though I am a technology leader, the amount of time I am spending now on people development, organisation shaping and operating model evolution may surprise a few outsiders. Every business is now a technology business but more importantly every business is now a people business. So as a technology leader this is a very important aspect for me.

What's your secret talent?

Outside work, I am a certified yoga and pranayama instructor. This is something which has kept me grounded, given me toolset to negotiate increasing pressures, stress. I am also grateful that I am now able to share these best practices as mindfulness tools with wider community with my organisation as well as local communities.

What makes you laugh?

My daily walks and play sessions with my dog. I am amazed at how he can live in the moment and enjoy simple things, and I learn this from him every day.