India is witnessing an unprecedented demand for AI-driven transformation and cutting-edge data center solutions. In the same vein, Tech Achieve Media recently spoke with Sumed Marwaha, the newly appointed Managing Director for AHEAD India, to discuss his vision for shaping the company’s presence in one of the fastest-growing technology markets in the world. In this wide-ranging conversation, Marwaha outlines his two-step roadmap for AHEAD India – replicating the company’s global capabilities locally and taking them to market – while emphasizing AI adoption, next-generation data center opportunities, and the importance of tailoring global solutions to India’s unique business landscape.
TAM: How do you plan to position AHEAD not just as a service provider, but as a true transformation partner for Indian enterprises?
Sumed Marwaha: It feels great to be part of this amazing organization. I’ve spoken to many people and read extensively about AHEAD, and the work being done is truly impressive.From an Indian IT industry perspective, AHEAD already does a lot of great things globally. My first priority is to bring all of that to India. We want India to become a mini AHEAD within the broader AHEAD portfolio, which is capable of delivering everything that AHEAD does across the globe. With the support of the leadership team, I believe this is achievable. It may take some time because AHEAD’s global operations are extensive, but this will remain my key focus.
Beyond that, AHEAD as a global organization is looking at how to make AI an integral part of everyday work for every associate. This applies in three major areas:
- Using AI to enhance the value we deliver to our customers.
- Delivering AI-based solutions and services directly to customers.
- Leveraging AI in internal support functions such as finance, HR, and legal.
The third area is important, though I plan to focus first on embedding AI into our core operations and client offerings. Interestingly, in a recent discussion with some of our leaders, someone asked whether AI is making us lazy because we simply prompt the system for answers. My response was: if you don’t do it, someone else will, and they’ll become far more productive than you. AI is central to what we do. Whether we are using it internally to add value or delivering AI-driven solutions to clients, both areas must be priorities. And that’s exactly what we are working on here at AHEAD.
TAM: How do you balance global strategy alignment with the need for hyper-local execution in a market as diverse as India?
Sumed Marwaha: AHEAD has already taken the first step. We began delivering solutions directly to the Indian market just last month, right around the time I joined. This is an important milestone, but it’s only the beginning.
The next step is to understand the market more deeply. Some of AHEAD’s offerings are very unique. For example, the way we approach our Foundry business and our transformation initiatives is quite different from what’s commonly available. Now that we’ve entered the market, this is the right time to gain perspective and refine our approach.
I’m only six days into my role at AHEAD, and I’ll soon be traveling to the US to meet with our leadership team. My goal is to better understand AHEAD’s global operations, identify our key differentiators, and figure out how to deliver those outcomes effectively in India.
Fortunately, I’ve done this before, which is bringing global solutions to the Indian market. You’re absolutely correct that one size does not fit all. The core offering may remain the same, but the way you present it, how you price, package, and localize it, must be tailored for the market. I’m looking forward to doing exactly that with AHEAD.
TAM: Indian enterprises are accelerating digital transformation, but often face fragmented technology ecosystems. How will AHEAD help organizations move from ‘project-based modernization’ to holistic transformation?
Sumed Marwaha: AHEAD is uniquely organized to provide an end-to-end portfolio of services. We cover everything from consulting to designing and building digital transformation solutions, all the way to managing those services over the long term.
This makes AHEAD stand out among organizations of our size. Our consulting capabilities can compete with the big four. In the design-and-build phase, we rival any company in the industry, supported by top-tier partnerships with leading OEMs. Finally, our managed services ensure that once solutions are deployed, they are operated efficiently and reliably.
The market itself may be fragmented, but our offerings are comprehensive. If a client needs to define and design their entire digital transformation journey, we have the consulting expertise. If they already have a roadmap but need support with design, build, and execution, we can deliver that. And if they’ve implemented solutions but need someone to manage them, or if they want a single partner to handle everything end-to-end. We have robust managed services to meet those needs.
As I mentioned earlier, the core offerings are already in place. The next step is to localize them so they align with the specific needs and appetite of the Indian market. That’s what we will focus on in the next phase of our journey.
TAM: What sectors in India do you see as untapped opportunities for AHEAD’s portfolio?
Sumed Marwaha: From a sector perspective, I believe there’s going to be significant growth driven by AI. Most organizations are focused on the software and digital side of AI, but AHEAD takes a unique approach – we also look at the hardware, the data center infrastructure, power requirements, liquid cooling, and the entire backend that supports AI.
This is a major opportunity because India is at an inflection point. As AI adoption accelerates, we will see a surge in demand for next-generation data centers. Many of India’s current data centers are legacy facilities with relatively low density. For example, power utilization per rack used to be around 5 to 10 kilowatts, maybe 15 at best. With AI and high-density requirements, this could jump to 100 to 150 kilowatts per rack.
This shift represents a tremendous opportunity for AHEAD. While our services portfolio is already strong, the data center infrastructure side is still largely untapped in India. If we can bring more of our global offerings to this market, we’ll be in a very strong position to address these emerging needs.
TAM: How do you personally define “technology impact,” and how will that belief shape your decisions at AHEAD India?
Sumed Marwaha: AI has been around for a long time, but Generative AI has made it accessible to everyone. I have a son and a daughter, and neither of them is in IT. My son runs his own business, and my daughter is just finishing her studies. When OpenAI first launched its tools, the first thing I told them was, “Go learn prompt engineering.” I believe that no matter what career you’re in, understanding prompt engineering is becoming essential. That’s the kind of impact Gen AI has had, and it’s made AI real and usable for everyone, not just IT professionals.
Sam Altman once mentioned that OpenAI’s servers were overwhelmed because people were generating Studio Ghibli-style art nonstop. That’s a perfect example of how quickly and widely this technology has spread. People are now using prompt engineering to solve problems and complete tasks across different fields.
Gen AI has transformed IT into an even bigger enabler. Earlier, most services companies focused solely on enterprise, business-to-business solutions. Today, every mobile phone and every device carries an element of AI. It has become deeply embedded in our daily lives, making technology far more accessible to end users.
TAM: If you had to summarize your roadmap in one sentence for AHEAD India, what would it be, and why?
Sumed Marwaha: I see it as a simple two-step process. First, ensure that everything AHEAD does globally is also done in India. Second, take those capabilities to the market.
On a softer note, something I’ve learned from some of the great leaders I’ve worked with is a simple philosophy: “Leave the campsite better than you found it.” That’s my bottom line—wherever you go, make things better than how you found them.
TAM: Final thoughts
Sumed Marwaha: Our partners, like NVIDIA and Dell, are working to bring GPU technology into the enterprise space. Today, it primarily sits with the top hyperscalers, but we’re looking to expand access. We’re also scaling our Foundry business, which has been predominantly in the US. By the end of this year, we’ll have an integration factory in the UK, and we’re planning to set one up in India next year.
NVIDIA’s philosophy is “build here, buy here,” and we’re aligning with that. We’ve already gone through the process with our major OEM partners like Dell and Cisco, and we’re conducting transactions locally, in rupees, through local distributors.
Next year, we plan to establish a Foundry capability in India that is liquid-cooled and capable of building large-scale super pods for clients who need them. At the same time, we’ll also focus on supporting smaller enterprises. This is where NVIDIA wants help, not just with massive systems, but with enabling enterprises that want to build their own infrastructure and keep their data within their walls. The demand for that is growing rapidly. We’re excited to help NVIDIA, Dell, Cisco, and our other key partners deliver these capabilities locally in India. It’s something very few companies do, and it represents a huge opportunity.
