Company/Organization & Achievement Awards Judging Committee
Chair:
Chris Simms, Vice President of Global Support & Infrastructure
Condé Nast, London, United Kingdom
Chris Simms is a highly accomplished professional with more than 25 years of experience in Global Support, Service Operations, IT, and Infrastructure. Currently serving as VP of Global Support & Infrastructure at Condé Nast since 2019, Chris is known for his strategic problem-solving, exemplary leadership, and dedication to excellence. Chris' journey began at the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology outside of London where he laid the foundation for both his successful career in Technology and passion for performance and radio broadcasting. Since then, he has built an exceptional career marked by significant achievements and contributions to various organizations. Chris has held pivotal roles across renowned companies, such as the BBC, Fremantle, Thames Water, and House of Fraser, where he was instrumental in driving digital transformation, optimizing IT and support infrastructure, and building high-performance, global teams. Throughout his career, Chris has developed a robust expertise in building and managing global support teams, vendor management, infrastructure strategy, and project management. He has a proven track record of leading cross-functional teams to deliver high-impact results on time and within budget. His strategic vision and technical acumen have consistently resulted in enhanced operational efficiency and business growth.
One of the highlights of Chris’ career was building and operationalizing a Global Support team from scratch at Condé Nast that serves all markets 24/7 either in person or remotely. This initiative not only showcased his ability to harmonize disparate technology and build highly functioning teams, but also underscored his commitment to supporting Condé Nast employees’ ability to easily do their jobs and create exceptional content for their customers. This achievement did not go unnoticed, as both he and his Global Support team were honored with the prestigious Stevie Bronze Award for Best Technical Support Strategy and Implementation at the International Business Awards in 2023. Additionally, Chris has received certifications from AXELOS, BCS, and APMG for Business Relationship Management, ITIL, PRINCE2, and more. Chris is also passionate about mentoring the next generation of Technology professionals. He has mentored numerous aspiring tech enthusiasts, helping them navigate their career paths and develop their skills. Chris believes in the power of continuous learning and encourages others to stay curious and adaptable in the ever-evolving tech landscape.
Outside of his professional life, Chris is passionate about volunteering and hosting charity events. He has served as a volunteer for Radio Marsden for over 28 years, a hospital radio station completely patient- and volunteer-led. During his time there, Chris has served as a radio personality, charity trustee and hosted numerous comedy nights raising thousands for charity. Chris’ extensive experience, combined with his passion for technological advancement and commitment to excellence, makes him an asset to any organization. He continues to drive innovation and inspire others in the ever-changing world of Technology Support and Infrastructure.
Committee:
Kamolini Chakraborty, Pro-Chancellor
Seacom Skills University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Kamolini teaches skills-based education at Seacom Skills University, India's first Skills University.
Yeni Fowotade, Principal Consultant
africon GmbH, Bremen, Germany
Yeni Fowotade specializes in market intelligence, strategic alliances, and expansion advisory services for international companies targeting Africa and emerging markets. As a principal consultant at africon GmbH, she guides businesses through market entry complexities, providing tailored strategic solutions. Yeni is also a member of OWIT and WIMBIZ.
Venkata Ashok K Gorantla, Associate Director
Verizon, Irving, Texas, United States
Ashok, an Associate Director at Verizon, pioneers advanced AI/ML algorithms to enhance customer experiences, driving loyalty and profitability. He has over 17 years of experience in Low-code and No-Code platforms, AI/ML, intelligent systems, and driving business and technical transformations. A graduate of GeorgiaTech, he is also a published Author and researcher.
Bhavna Goyal, Director
Orix Corporation USA, Jersey City, New Jersey, United States
Bhavna has been an Asset Manager at ORIX Corporation USA since 2020. Bhavna has close to 20 years of experience in the financial industry, most of which has been on Wall Street. Bhavna's experience is in managing corporate and real estate investments and as a Board Observer at various companies at ORIX.
Praveen Reddy Guntaka, Market Research Data Scientist
FinThrive, Coppell, Texas, United States
Praveen Guntaka is a Market Researcher with exceptional analytical skills, holding a Master’s degree in Business Analytics from the University of Cincinnati. He is excellently focused on global challenges and is driven by a strong enthusiasm to solve problems and advance the world.
Ebrahim Harara, Senior Management Consultant
SIM Management Consultancy, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Ebrahim has 7+ years of experience in management consulting, public service performance development, model implementation, and channel assessment. He worked with UAE government organizations to achieve locally and globally identified accreditation, the Global Star Rating Program "7 Star", Management Standards "ISO, Strategic Planning and Future Foresight, and The Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award "SKEA.“
Franklin Kamnang Ngansop, Business Coach
Vitamin CS, Coaching, Douala, Littoral, Cameroon
Franklin is an energetic Startup and Business Coach whose mission is to unlock the immense potential within entrepreneurs and businesses. His expertise in business strategy and innovation, coupled with a profound understanding of industry dynamics, makes him a powerhouse for nurturing growth in budding enterprises. Franklin has a commendable history of assisting startups.
Bishan Nandy, Director - Hospital Administration
University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Bishan Nandy is a healthcare executive with 15+ years of experience in healthcare strategy, operations, and program management. He is also a Board Member and part of the senior leadership teams at healthcare and education non-profit organizations. He holds a Bachelors in Engineering from Jadavpur University and an MBA from Purdue University.
Deven Panchal, AI Lead
AT&T, New York City, New York, United States
Deven serves as AI Lead at AT&T, responsible for R&D efforts to deliver cutting-edge AI, Gen AI and Data solutions. His work has benefited millions of people around the world, received multiple International awards and has been featured on Forbes, TechCrunch, Light Reading, TelecomTV etc.
Kumar Raghvendra, Commercial Director, UK, Europe & USA, Veetee Group
Veetee Group, Rochester, Kent, United Kingdom
Kumar Raghvendra, Commercial Director at Veetee Group, has extensive experience in the consumer goods and food and beverage industries. He has transformed businesses at P&G and LVMH and oversees Veetee's operations in the UK, Europe, and the USA. A certified life coach and NLP practitioner, he focuses on leadership and culture coaching.
Ramakrishnan Rajagopal, General Manager, Operations
Amazon, Stockton, California, United States
With 15+ years of Supply Chain and Operations experience, Ramkrishnan Rajagopal is the General Manager, Operations at Amazon. He leads a team of 100+ engineers and operations leaders to optimize the inbound supply chain in North America. Ramkrishnan received his MBA from Pennsylvania State University in Supply Chain Management and Finance.
Siddharth Shah, Fraud Strategist
Chime, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Siddharth Shah is a business analytics and risk management expert with a proven track record in fraud prevention and operational efficiency. With a strong background from Georgia Tech, he has driven significant improvements at Chime, American Express, and Kabbage, making him a valuable asset for optimizing business performance and mitigating risks.
Ash Shetty, Senior Vice President
PineBridge Investments, New York City, New York, United States
Ash Shetty, Senior Vice President at PineBridge Investments, has over 9 years of experience in fixed income strategy and portfolio management. He previously worked in the oil and gas industry for 4 years before pursuing an MBA in Finance. He is also a CFA charterholder.
Lucia Stoicescu, CEO
mindit.io, Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
Lucia Stoicescu has been the CEO of mindit.io since 2021. She is passionate about AI and holds a Master's in Databases, a Romanian Canadian Executive MBA, and as of 2024 she is a Harvard Business School alumni.
Saravanan Vivek Anandan, Co-Founder & CTO
AGM Infra Solutions | GroPlus | SHRARA Agro Products, Frisco, Texas, United States