Latest news with #RahulMisra
Tahawul Tech
16-07-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
AI Appreciation Day 2025 celebrates a smarter, safer, and more ethical future
Tech leaders across industries explore how AI can drive innovation while staying anchored in inclusivity, transparency, and trust AI Appreciation Day on 16 July offers a moment to acknowledge the extraordinary advancements artificial intelligence has brought to our world—streamlining operations, enhancing security, improving decision-making, and opening up new frontiers of creativity. However, this celebration also comes with a shared responsibility: ensuring that innovation is pursued in an ethical and inclusive manner. Across the Middle East and beyond, industry leaders are reimagining how AI is built and deployed. From advocating for diverse datasets and explainable algorithms to enforcing data security and environmental accountability, the consensus is clear: AI must serve people, protect privacy, and foster trust. In this exclusive feature, Tahawultech curates expert perspectives on how AI leaders are aligning innovation with purpose, building a future where intelligent systems are not only powerful but principled. spoke to leading industry experts who agree that AI must be driven by trust, ethics, and inclusivity. Innovation is meaningful only when paired with transparency, diverse data, human oversight, and accountability. The future of AI lies in building systems that are not just smart but also fair, secure, and human-centric. Industry voices: Rahul Misra, SVP & Managing Director – Middle East and Africa, IFS To lead in AI, we must align profit with principles. At IFS, we believe innovation is most powerful when human-centred, intentional, and deployed responsibly. augments human creativity and judgement ethically. AI leaders must design with transparency, ensure decisions are explainable, and embed inclusivity from data to deployment. This is not only ethical—it is smart business. Trust drives adoption, inclusion fuels relevance, and ethics ensure resilience. The future belongs to those who scale innovation and responsibility as twin engines of progress, not trade-offs. Rob T. Lee, Chief of Research, SANS Institute Businesses are under pressure to adopt AI rapidly. Speed is vital for survival, but it brings risks—many AI tools lack mature security safeguards. Racing ahead without protection is reckless. Organisations must assess AI capabilities swiftly without compromising security—much like F1 racing combines speed with safety. Executives should establish clear security guidelines, such as the SANS AI Security Controls, to enable safe adoption. Speed without safety undermines trust and leads to failure. Speed + Safety = Success; anything less leads to collapse. Joanna Mainguy, Sustainability Accelerator Director, AVEVA AVEVA, a recognised industrial AI leader for over 20 years, actively develops standards and solutions to reduce the environmental footprint of digital technologies. We collaborate with the Green Software Foundation to lower emissions and with ITU's Green Digital Action to shape AI software measurement standards. Our focus is on reducing energy usage and enhancing environmental impact. AI is vital in decarbonisation, integrating renewables, and supporting complex data flows within green energy systems. Ezzeldin Hussein, Regional Senior Director, Solution Engineering – META, SentinelOne AI must be developed with inclusivity, transparency, and ethics embedded throughout. Fair AI starts with diverse data and representative teams to avoid bias. Transparent and explainable systems build trust with users and regulators, particularly in critical applications. Ethical innovation creates long-term value, protects reputation, and ensures compliance. Internally, all staff—from executives to engineers—must understand AI's societal impact and be empowered to speak up. External partnerships further align AI with shared social values. The future of AI depends not just on what is possible, but on what is right. Ramprakash Ramamoorthy, Director of AI Research, ManageEngine Integrating innovation and profit with ethics, transparency, and inclusivity is essential. AI leaders can achieve this by embedding ethical principles and human oversight across all development stages. While automation boosts efficiency, it cannot replace human creativity or fairness. Responsible AI requires clear guidelines, continuous upskilling, and viewing employees as partners in change. Balancing automation with ethics and transparency supports human potential and fosters trust and resilience. Mohit Bector, Commercial Head – UAE & GCC, ASUS Business True progress demands innovation rooted in ethics. Transparency in AI decision-making is essential to earn user trust. People will not trust what they do not understand. Diverse teams help identify design flaws and mitigate bias. Ethics must be built into every step of the AI lifecycle, with clear rules, regular reviews, and accountability. When AI supports rather than controls, it fosters trust—translating into long-term profitability. Subho Halder, Co-founder & CEO, Appknox Mobile remains at the forefront of digital business—and among the most targeted. In the Middle East, 53% of organisations are most concerned about attacks on connected devices, including mobiles. At Appknox, we use AI to test, secure, and monitor mobile apps at scale, helping businesses stay ahead of threats while meeting compliance. From real-time checks to automated threat detection, AI enables security at the pace of innovation. On AI Appreciation Day, we recognise how automation enhances both protection and competitive edge. Salah Suleiman, Managing Director – South Gulf, Trend Micro AI is now indispensable for tackling modern cyber threats—analysing billions of signals, detecting patterns, and enabling proactive defence. At Trend Micro, AI powers the Trend Vision One™ platform, offering real-time threat intelligence and cross-layer protection. On AI Appreciation Day, we celebrate how AI has shifted cybersecurity from reactive to proactive, matching the speed and complexity of today's digital landscape. Abdullah Alsaeed, Co-founder & Chief Strategy Officer, Mozn AI Appreciation Day prompts us to reflect on the responsibility behind technological progress. At Mozn, we believe AI must be built with purpose, transparency, and an understanding of local and regional contexts. As we embrace AI's transformative power, we remain committed to solutions that empower industries, honour cultural values, and uphold the highest ethical standards. Dinesh Varadhrajan, Chief Product Officer, Kissflow AI has democratised access to knowledge and creativity—but now we must democratise AI development itself. Too often, digital solution creation is limited to a select few, leaving business teams sidelined and innovation stuck in 'AI pilot purgatory.' At Kissflow, we believe combining AI with low-code/no-code platforms unlocks this potential for everyone. The future belongs to those who empower people to build—not just consume—AI-driven solutions. Levent Ergin, Chief Strategist for Climate, Sustainability and AI, Global Head of ESG Strategic Alliance Partnerships, Informatica AI's potential is increasingly evident in the MENA region, addressing urgent challenges like climate change and economic diversification. Agentic AI enhances decision-making in energy, finance, and infrastructure, while Generative AI empowers youth and businesses to innovate without deep technical expertise. With its unique position, the MENA region can lead in using AI to drive inclusive innovation, sustainability, and global impact. Matt Cloke, Chief Technology Officer, Endava AI should not be defined by one 'killer app'—its true power lies in incremental improvements. Like Valentine's Day celebrates everyday gestures, AI's value comes from enhancing daily operations across fraud detection, billing, reporting, and customer experiences. Leaders should embed AI into everyday workflows, focusing on consistency and integration rather than hype. On AI Appreciation Day, let's celebrate AI as a continual enabler of smarter, faster businesses. Assim Khedr, Engineering & Training Manager – Middle East, Axis Communications AI Appreciation Day is a moment to reflect on how AI is reshaping security, safety, and performance. Axis research shows 34% of customers believe AI and GenAI will significantly influence future business. Responsible and ethical use is key to realising AI's benefits. AI should augment human intelligence—driving smarter, safer, and more sustainable operations. Inna Weiner, AVP Product, AppsFlyer GenAI demos may be flashy, but lasting impact comes from strong use cases and execution. The future is not about automating for appearances but making impactful, data-driven decisions. Agents learn by doing—requiring iteration, speed, and resilience. This growth mindset era rewards those willing to build fast, learn quickly, and evolve continuously. Ziad Nasr, General Manager – Middle East, Acronis AI is reshaping real-time decision-making and data security. At Acronis, we use AI for threat analysis, incident prioritisation, and agentic systems that enhance cyber resilience. But with power comes responsibility—ethical, transparent use is essential. Cybersecurity leaders must ensure AI balances innovation with core values to protect what matters most. Johnny Karam, Managing Director & VP, International Emerging Region, Cohesity The UAE is a global leader in AI-driven transformation, appointing Chief AI Officers and launching the world's first AI university. At Cohesity, we echo this vision—AI must be secure, resilient, and trusted. With a strong focus on digital sovereignty, AI can boost government efficiency and national security. But this potential is only realised through responsible deployment, grounded in governance, transparency, and trust. Naji Atallah, Head of Construction & Manufacturing – EMEA Emerging, Autodesk The UAE has set a global benchmark for ethical and inclusive AI, supported by its AI Strategy 2031 and dedicated university. At Autodesk, we align with this vision, using AI to promote sustainable design and construction. Our Trusted AI framework ensures transparency, security, and ethical use, while reducing environmental impact. On AI Appreciation Day, we celebrate AI's role in shaping a more resilient and equitable future. Philippe Deblois, VP, Global Solutions Engineering, Dynatrace AI reduces complexity and drives innovation, but its real value lies in building long-term business resilience. Many organisations fail due to a gap between ambition and execution. The most successful treat AI as a strategic enabler—grounded in trusted data, clear goals, and a sharp focus on measurable outcomes. Agentic AI holds vast potential, but its success depends on starting with purpose and transparency. Nader Paslar, General Manager at CODE81 On AI Appreciation Day, we at CODE81 recognize the vital role of Machine Learning (ML) in elevating safety and trust within finance. ML drives real-time fraud detection and empowers financial institutions to counter threats swiftly and accurately. By decoding complex transactional patterns, ML minimizes risk and fortifies customer confidence. Serving from within Ghobash Group's technology cluster, we're dedicated to delivering secure, AI-driven solutions through automation and low-code innovation. Today, we're proud to showcase how ML is transforming finance across our region, making it smarter, safer, and more resilient for all.
Channel Post MEA
22-04-2025
- Business
- Channel Post MEA
IFS Appoints Rahul Misra As SVP & MD For The Middle East And Africa
IFS has announced the appointment of Rahul Misra as Senior Vice President and Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa (MEA). In his new role, Rahul will lead IFS's growth strategy across key MEA markets, scale the company's regional presence, strengthen strategic partnerships, and elevate the customer experience. A visionary business and technology leader, Rahul brings more than 25 years of experience in driving transformation, fostering high-performance teams, and leading enterprise growth across the Middle East and Africa. He joins IFS after an 18-year career at Oracle, where he held several strategic leadership positions, most recently heading the Cloud Applications business across the Gulf and South Africa. Under his leadership, the business achieved consistent double-digit growth and drove significant industry and regional transformation. Hannes Liebe, President for APJMEA at IFS, commented: 'We are thrilled to welcome Rahul Misra to the IFS leadership team. The Middle East and Africa represents one of our most strategic growth regions globally, with nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE leading ambitious national transformation agendas and infrastructure development across Africa gaining rapid momentum. Our strengths in Enterprise Asset Management, Service Management, and Cloud ERP—underpinned by perfectly aligned with the needs of asset and service-intensive industries in these markets, including oil and gas, utilities, construction, engineering, and aerospace & defense. Rahul's deep expertise, regional insight, and strong leadership make him the ideal choice to lead this exciting next chapter.' Rahul Misra, SVP & Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, said: 'IFS is entering a defining phase of its journey—crossing €1 billion in ARR and experiencing exceptional momentum in the adoption of The Middle East and Africa is a region full of promise, where visionary national programs like Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, the UAE's innovation-led economic transformation, and the continent-wide infrastructure acceleration in Africa are creating powerful tailwinds for digital and industrial innovation. With IFS's global leadership in Enterprise Asset and Service Management, and a modern, composable Cloud ERP platform, we are uniquely positioned to create lasting value for customers across the region. I'm excited to work with our customers and partners to deliver meaningful outcomes and set new benchmarks for success.' Rahul succeeds Mehmood Khan, who after six successful years leading the MEA region, will transition into a broader executive role as Vice President, Install Base and Success for APJMEA. Under Mehmood's leadership, IFS MEA experienced transformative growth and strengthened its reputation as a trusted digital transformation partner. 'We thank Mehmood for his outstanding contributions and leadership. His impact has been instrumental in shaping the region's success, and we look forward to the value he will continue to deliver in his expanded role,' added Hannes Liebe. 0 0
Tahawul Tech
21-04-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
IFS appoints Rahul Misra as SVP & Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa
IFS, a global leader in cloud enterprise software and Industrial AI applications, has announced the appointment of Rahul Misra as Senior Vice President and Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa (MEA). In his new role, Rahul will lead IFS's growth strategy across key MEA markets, scale the company's regional presence, strengthen strategic partnerships, and elevate the customer experience. A visionary business and technology leader, Rahul brings more than 25 years of experience in driving transformation, fostering high-performance teams, and leading enterprise growth across the Middle East and Africa. He joins IFS after an 18-year career at Oracle, where he held several strategic leadership positions, most recently heading the Cloud Applications business across the Gulf and South Africa. Under his leadership, the business achieved consistent double-digit growth and drove significant industry and regional transformation. Hannes Liebe, President for APJMEA at IFS, commented: 'We are thrilled to welcome Rahul Misra to the IFS leadership team. The Middle East and Africa represents one of our most strategic growth regions globally, with nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE leading ambitious national transformation agendas and infrastructure development across Africa gaining rapid momentum. Our strengths in Enterprise Asset Management, Service Management, and Cloud ERP—underpinned by perfectly aligned with the needs of asset and service-intensive industries in these markets, including oil and gas, utilities, construction, engineering, and aerospace & defence. Rahul's deep expertise, regional insight, and strong leadership make him the ideal choice to lead this exciting next chapter'. Rahul Misra, SVP & Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, said: 'IFS is entering a defining phase of its journey—crossing €1 billion in ARR and experiencing exceptional momentum in the adoption of The Middle East and Africa is a region full of promise, where visionary national programs like Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, the UAE's innovation-led economic transformation, and the continent-wide infrastructure acceleration in Africa are creating powerful tailwinds for digital and industrial innovation. With IFS's global leadership in Enterprise Asset and Service Management, and a modern, composable Cloud ERP platform, we are uniquely positioned to create lasting value for customers across the region. I'm excited to work with our customers and partners to deliver meaningful outcomes and set new benchmarks for success'. Rahul succeeds Mehmood Khan, who after six successful years leading the MEA region, will transition into a broader executive role as Vice President, Install Base and Success for APJMEA. Under Mehmood's leadership, IFS MEA experienced transformative growth and strengthened its reputation as a trusted digital transformation partner. 'We thank Mehmood for his outstanding contributions and leadership. His impact has been instrumental in shaping the region's success, and we look forward to the value he will continue to deliver in his expanded role', added Hannes Liebe. Image Credit: IFS
Zawya
21-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
IFS appoints Rahul Misra as SVP & Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – IFS, a global leader in cloud enterprise software and Industrial AI applications, has announced the appointment of Rahul Misra as Senior Vice President and Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa (MEA). In his new role, Rahul will lead IFS's growth strategy across key MEA markets, scale the company's regional presence, strengthen strategic partnerships, and elevate the customer experience. A visionary business and technology leader, Rahul brings more than 25 years of experience in driving transformation, fostering high-performance teams, and leading enterprise growth across the Middle East and Africa. He joins IFS after an 18-year career at Oracle, where he held several strategic leadership positions, most recently heading the Cloud Applications business across the Gulf and South Africa. Under his leadership, the business achieved consistent double-digit growth and drove significant industry and regional transformation. Hannes Liebe, President for APJMEA at IFS, commented: 'We are thrilled to welcome Rahul Misra to the IFS leadership team. The Middle East and Africa represents one of our most strategic growth regions globally, with nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE leading ambitious national transformation agendas and infrastructure development across Africa gaining rapid momentum. Our strengths in Enterprise Asset Management, Service Management, and Cloud ERP—underpinned by perfectly aligned with the needs of asset and service-intensive industries in these markets, including oil and gas, utilities, construction, engineering, and aerospace & defense. Rahul's deep expertise, regional insight, and strong leadership make him the ideal choice to lead this exciting next chapter.' Rahul Misra, SVP & Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, said: 'IFS is entering a defining phase of its journey—crossing €1 billion in ARR and experiencing exceptional momentum in the adoption of The Middle East and Africa is a region full of promise, where visionary national programs like Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, the UAE's innovation-led economic transformation, and the continent-wide infrastructure acceleration in Africa are creating powerful tailwinds for digital and industrial innovation. With IFS's global leadership in Enterprise Asset and Service Management, and a modern, composable Cloud ERP platform, we are uniquely positioned to create lasting value for customers across the region. I'm excited to work with our customers and partners to deliver meaningful outcomes and set new benchmarks for success.' Rahul succeeds Mehmood Khan, who after six successful years leading the MEA region, will transition into a broader executive role as Vice President, Install Base and Success for APJMEA. Under Mehmood's leadership, IFS MEA experienced transformative growth and strengthened its reputation as a trusted digital transformation partner. ' We thank Mehmood for his outstanding contributions and leadership. His impact has been instrumental in shaping the region's success, and we look forward to the value he will continue to deliver in his expanded role,' added Hannes Liebe. About IFS IFS is the world's leading provider of Industrial AI and enterprise software for businesses that power, service, and protect our planet. Our solutions enable companies that manufacture goods, maintain complex assets, and deliver service-focused operations to unlock the transformative potential of Industrial AI™—driving efficiency, productivity, and sustainable growth. The AI-powered IFS Cloud platform is fully composable and built for adaptability, supporting the evolving needs of our customers across Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Enterprise Asset Management (EAM), Field Service Management (FSM), and Supply Chain Management (SCM). With real-time data, analytics, and machine learning, IFS empowers businesses to succeed at their Moment of Service™. Founded in 1983, IFS today operates in over 80 countries with more than 7,000 employees. Built on a foundation of agility, customer-centricity, and trust, IFS is the most recommended vendor in its category. Learn more at
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lubrizol Amplifies India Commitment with Local Technology and Innovation Center
New state-of-the-art facility in Maharashtra will enhance Innovation, R&D and application development for Lubrizol and its customers, serving both local-for-local and local-for-global needs Facility builds on the success of the company's existing India footprint by co-locating its labs and technical capabilities to accelerate development New facility builds on Lubrizol's commitment of $350 million in localized manufacturing and in-region investments over the last two years MUMBAI, India, April 01, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--To accelerate India-based innovation, Lubrizol announced it will open a state-of-the-art Technology and Innovation Center in Maharashtra. The first of its kind for the company globally, the facility is designed to progress breakthrough innovations, expand collaboration, and enhance speed to market for Lubrizol and the many customers and industries it serves both in the region and globally. The center will empower collaboration across Lubrizol, co-locating lab capabilities and expanding on the success of existing in-region technology Centers of Excellence (COE). The site will also include a Customer Experience Center, allowing Lubrizol to co-develop solutions with customers and partners. The facility will feature advanced analytical capabilities to support research needs, including automation and digital tools, allowing teams to apply decision science to accelerate next-generation solutions. "Lubrizol has been synonymous with innovation for nearly 100 years, and this new center represents a significant commitment to our innovation locally," said Bhavana Bindra, Lubrizol's Managing Director India, Middle East and Africa. "The Technology and Innovation Center represents a significant commitment to our journey in the region. By bringing together expertise across multiple Lubrizol businesses, this facility will be a cornerstone of collaboration, automation and technological advancement for our teams and all those we serve." "An innovation center in Maharashtra provides proximity to key stakeholders, fostering seamless collaboration and operational efficiencies. Through a highly collaborative working space, the center enables strategic research and development, leveraging the best of our legacy innovation and formulation processes with future-state technology to help us take our quality innovation one step further," said Dr. Rahul Misra, Lubrizol's Sr. Director of Technology, India, Middle East and Africa. Rebecca Liebert, Lubrizol's President and Chief Executive Officer, added, "The Technology and Innovation Center will serve as a model for future global centers, aligning with our strategy of establishing interconnected innovation centers worldwide. Our innovation teams in India have already enabled significant innovation in the many industries we serve, including earning the company global customer innovation awards. We expect this center to expand on those successes." Lubrizol's commitment to local R&D and innovation has been an active part of Lubrizol's decades-long legacy in India. As one example, Lubrizol introduced CPVC piping to the India market 25 years ago, enabling clean drinking water for thousands across the region. Today the region is a global leader in CPVC technology. Lubrizol's India Bar Soap COE has helped improve the structural integrity and sustainability of bar soap, ensuring soaps last longer and create less waste, earning recognition from leading global brands. To support emerging regulatory changes and trends in transportation, the company also has a variety of in-region innovators focused on next-generation additive solutions. Lubrizol's Technology and Innovation Center announcement follows multiple Lubrizol investment announcements, with a more than $350 million USD commitment into India over the last 18 months. This includes bolstering Lubrizol's manufacturing strength in the region with plans to construct the company's second largest manufacturing facility globally to support the region's growing transportation and industrial markets, as well as a collaboration to build the world's largest CPVC resin plant.* The company also opened a Global Capability Center in Pune last year, doubled its capacity at its Dahej, Gujarat, manufacturing site and announced several other projects. The new Lubrizol Technology and Innovation Center will continue to expand Lubrizol's network in India. * World's largest based on single-site capacity for CPVC resin About Lubrizol Lubrizol, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a science-based company whose specialty chemistry delivers sustainable solutions to advance mobility, improve well-being and enhance modern life. Every day, the innovators of Lubrizol strive to create extraordinary value for customers at the intersection of science, market needs and business success, driving discovery and creating breakthrough solutions that enhance life and make the world work better. Founded in 1928, Lubrizol has global reach and local presence, with more than 100 manufacturing facilities, sales and technical offices and more than 7,000 employees around the world. For more information, visit View source version on Contacts Media Contact:Pooja Shetty | IMEA Marketing and Communication LeadThe Lubrizol Corporation
