Tech Mahindra has named a new Chief People Officer, with big plans to embed artificial intelligence in every project he plans to roll out.
Richard Lobo has been appointed as the new man in charge of talent management, recruitment and human resources at the Indian multinational information technology services and consulting company which has more than 146,000 employees in close to 90 countries around the world.
Lobo is planning to make his mark, as the industry veteran made clear in a range of media interviews.
The former Infosys vice president, who was with the IT firm for more than two decades, has “big plans” for generative artificial intelligence.
Lobo, who briefly worked at edtech BYJU after Infosys before coming to Tech Mahindra, laid out his plans for the next two years.
Firstly, he stated generative artificial intelligence is a key priority for the multinational this year, and in the years to come.
“Tech Mahindra will transition from a traditionally reactive model to one that is both predictive and proactive, with AI-driven analytics remaining at the core of this transformation.”
Richard Lobo
Perhaps more than most of its European and US peers, Tech Mahindra has is looking at infusing AI and generative AI into every business unit, product line and business team.
Indian entities face, for now, relatively little regulation and oversight when it comes to experimenting with new technologies, compared to many of their direct rivals in the US and EU.
The company is rapidly rolling out virtual assistants and thousands of chatbots that are steered by AI technologies.
Their primary jobs are assisting with various internal tasks, as well as streamlining customer support and general service responsibilities.
As a result, most of Tech Mahindra’s work output is now amplified with AI.
“We are quickly training and upskilling our practitioners on a large scale so that they can embrace technological changes and contribute to organizational success,” Lobo said.
Risks and obstacles
Despite the firm focus on AI, Lobo did acknowledge various challenges, hurdles and risks lie ahead.
“In the dynamic landscape of our industry, we encounter significant hurdles, stemming from rapid technological advancements, the fierce competition, and the need to safeguard data privacy and cybersecurity,” he said.
The launch of various new tools and platforms should be expected in the next 12-24 months, Lobo said, adding that – as part of these plans – Tech Mahindra plans to go on somewhat of a global hiring spree to lure the industry’s best and brightest to the $6.5 billion company.
Without the right talent not the right tech, and vice versa, he argued.
“I was deeply drawn to this role because of the Mahindra Group’s focus on harmonising human capital strategies with broader business objectives,” Lobo explained.
“This alignment is an area where my extensive experience and passion lie. Tech Mahindra’s dedication to innovation, sustainability, and nurturing a people-centric culture profoundly resonates with my professional values and ethos,” he continued.
Innovation and analytics
To stay ahead of the competition, innovation and analytics should be the main key driver in everything Tech Mahindra does, Lobo stressed.
To establish such a company culture, his team is working “to foster an environment that encourages curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge to cement Tech Mahindra’s position at the vanguard of technological innovation.”
“In the realm of talent management, we are setting our sights on introducing cutting-edge engagement and retention initiatives,” Lobo declared.
“Over the next 12-24 months, we will focus on harnessing the potential of AI and data analytics, to refine our talent acquisition processes, predict future workforce needs, and personalise employee experiences,” he elaborated.
Harnessing the power and capabilities of data-driven strategies is a must for every staff member at Tech Mahindra going forward.
“In doing do, Tech Mahindra will transition from a traditionally reactive model to one that is both predictive and proactive, with AI-driven analytics remaining at the core of this transformation,” he concluded.
“AI is not just a tool for us; it is a strategic ally in realising our vision.”
