Who is Aarthi Subramanian? TCS' new COO leading the charge for women in India's male-centric tech sector

The IT sector in India, a cornerstone of the nation’s economic growth, has long been dominated by men at the top.

However, this landscape is beginning to change, with a growing number of women breaking through the glass ceiling in leadership roles.

One of the standout leaders in this shift is Aarthi Subramanian, who will assume the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) starting May 1, 2024.

From trainee to troubleshooter


Subramanian’s journey at TCS is a testament to her hard work and determination. She joined the company in 1989 as a graduate trainee and steadily rose through the ranks to become a respected troubleshooter, earning the nickname ‘Ms. Fixit,’ according to a TOI report.

Known for her expertise in digital technology and artificial intelligence, she was appointed Tata Group’s Chief Digital Officer in 2017, where she drove major innovations at the conglomerate.

Now, with her new role at TCS, Subramanian is tasked with revitalising the company's consulting division, which has faced challenges in recent years.

The appointment of Subramanian as COO is a significant step not only for TCS but also for the broader IT industry in India, where gender diversity at the highest levels has traditionally been lacking.

While companies like ITC Infotech and Google India have seen women in top roles, Subramanian will be one of the few women to hold such a prestigious position within the Tata Group.

Her leadership will play a critical role in driving TCS’s transformation as the company seeks to regain its competitive edge in a rapidly changing technology landscape.

Industry insiders told TOI that Subramanian is seen as the right person to lead TCS through a major "contextual reset," especially as the firm looks to remain relevant in an AI-driven world.

Her deep understanding of the company’s operations, combined with her leadership in driving digital transformation at Tata Sons, makes her an invaluable asset to TCS.

“She knows TCS quite well,” said K Krithivasan, CEO of TCS, adding that Subramanian brings a wealth of experience in both business performance and technology adoption.

Gender diversity on the rise


In a broader context, the elevation of women to senior roles in India’s IT industry is part of an ongoing effort to close the gender gap in leadership.

In 2024, women held 23% of senior leadership positions in the sector, a notable increase from 18.7% in 2023, ET had earlier reported.

The rise of women executives, such as Preeti Lobana at Google, Arundhati Bhattacharya at Salesforce, and Sandhya Devanathan at Meta, signals a broader trend of women taking charge at the highest levels of global technology firms.

This shift is driven by ongoing empowerment initiatives, mentorship programs, and leadership development efforts aimed at reducing gender disparity. Women in roles such as Chief Technology Officer, Chief Data Officer, and Chief AI Officer are now shaping the future of the IT industry in India and abroad.

Aarthi Subramanian’s new role at TCS marks a major milestone in this journey of gender equality.