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GCC Strategy | AI & Digital Transformation | Enterprise Transformation
Dr. Santhosh Rao is a distinguished business and technology executive with more than 29 years of experience in Global Capability Centers (GCCs), enterprise transformation, consulting, business strategy, sales leadership, global delivery, and P&L management. He currently serves as Partner & Executive Director – GCC Offerings & Sales Leader at IBM Consulting, where he leads GCC offerings, sales strategy, growth initiatives, and AI-led enterprise transformation across India and South Asia.
Over the course of his extensive career with IBM Consulting, Dr. Rao has held multiple senior leadership positions covering GCC strategy, business transformation, customer experience, digital enablement, retail and consumer industries, consulting growth, and global delivery. His leadership experience includes developing GCC strategies, building consultative sales and delivery organizations, managing strategic client relationships, and designing global operating models for large enterprises.
Dr. Rao has played a significant role in helping organizations evolve their GCCs from traditional cost-focused delivery models into strategic, innovation-led and value-generating business hubs. His professional expertise encompasses GCC Build-Operate-Transform (BOT) strategies, enterprise transformation, AI and digital enablement, global delivery models, ecosystem partnerships, and executive-level business advisory.
His international leadership experience includes working across India, the United States, Australia, and the wider Asia-Pacific region. During his global leadership roles, he managed more than 60 global clients, a $500M+ revenue portfolio, and a workforce of more than 2,500 professionals. He has also worked with major global organizations across retail, distribution, and other industries, contributing to large-scale enterprise transformation and global delivery initiatives.
Dr. Rao is also recognized as a thought leader in artificial intelligence, digital transformation, GCC strategy, enterprise modernization, and global business operations. His professional insights have been featured through leading business and industry media platforms, including Forbes, CNBC, The Times of India, and The Hindu BusinessLine. He has also participated in industry forums and global business events as a speaker and subject-matter expert.
His expertise covers leading large businesses and managing P&L responsibilities, advising senior executives, and building strong relationships with clients and stakeholders. He also has experience in AI and digital transformation, setting up and scaling Global Capability Centers (GCCs), developing global operating models, leading sales and delivery teams, and building strategic partnerships with major technology platforms.
With a strong combination of executive leadership, technology expertise, international business experience, and academic specialization in computer science and artificial intelligence, Dr. Rao brings a practical and strategic perspective to the challenges and opportunities created by AI, emerging technologies, global capability centers, and enterprise transformation.
