CIO Futurescape 2026, organized by the CIO Association Kolkata Chapter, was held on 10th January 2026 at Taj City Centre, Kolkata, with over 180 CIOs from across the country deliberating on "AI and the future of enterprise technology". Sanjeev Sinha (India Power), Narayan Basak (TCG Digital), Sandip Pradhan (Century Plyboards), and other CIOs from across the country were the keynote speakers of the event.
The event featured Mr. Manish Prasad, President & MD, SAP India, and Mr. Raju Vegesna, CMD, Sify Technologies. They were accompanied by Dr. Sandip Pradhan, President of CIOA Kolkata Chapter and CDIO, Century Plyboards; Sanjeev Sinha, Treasurer and President – IT & D, India Power; Sanjay Goswami, Secretary and CISO of Century Plyboards; Samrat Banerjee, Vice President and CIO, Emami; Pampa Basu, Jt. Secretary and Ex-Senior Director, ITC Infotech; Rajesh Dutta, MC Member and Head – IT, JMS Mining; Avaneesh Kumar, MC Member and Head – IT, Skipper; Kripadyuti Sarkar, MC Member and Group CIO, Ambuja Neotia; Rishikesh Kr. Singh, MC Member and VP – IT at Grasim Industries; and Surajit Banerjee, MC Member, Dhunseri Polyfilms.
Speaking to the media, Dr. Sandip Pradhan, President of the CIO Association Kolkata Chapter, said:
“CIO Futurescape 2026 reflects a decisive shift—from discussing technology to leading with it. In 2026, AI is no longer experimental; it is a leadership responsibility. Through this platform, CIOs are coming together to shape responsible, secure, and scalable AI adoption that delivers real business outcomes. Our focus is not tools, but impact.”
The CIO Association continues to serve as a national platform for knowledge sharing, peer collaboration, and leadership development, enabling digital leaders to exchange insights on emerging technologies and enterprise transformation. Governed by a Central Governing Body and Chapter Councils, the CIO Association today operates 19 chapters across India and internationally, with Indian chapters in Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi NCR, Goa, Gujarat, Hyderabad, Kerala, Kolkata, Madhya Pradesh, Mumbai, Nagpur, Punjab, Pune, Rajasthan, and international chapters in Bangladesh, Dubai (UAE), Indonesia, and the Philippines.
The Kolkata Chapter of the CIO Association plays a unique role by extending technology leadership beyond enterprises into societal and regional development. Covering the entire eastern region of India, the chapter actively contributes to:
AI and digital skills development through industry–academia collaboration
Cybersecurity awareness and resilience initiatives
Startup and innovation ecosystem engagement
Responsible technology adoption aligned with public interest
Through these initiatives, the Kolkata Chapter has positioned the region as a credible hub for enterprise AI leadership and digital transformation, while supporting national priorities such as Digital India, Make in India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
CIO Futurescape 2026 is supported by leading technology partners: Sify Technologies, PwC, Infor India Pvt. Ltd., Canon, ManageEngine, Zoom, NetApp, Quantum Network, FieldAssist, Netskope, SAVIC, Barracuda, Fortinet, SAVEX, Shyam FutureTech, Crestron | Netgear, Converge Digital, Silicon System, Surflex Technologies, Stallion Onebyte, SecoNova, SMIPL, Haritasa, and Reason Analytics.