Anand Pillai

Anand Pillai is the Chief Strategy Officer and Professor of Practice at Christ University in Bangalore. He was appointed to this role in July 2024, where he is responsible for leading strategic initiatives and integrating modern business strategies into the academic environment, thereby fostering innovation and nurturing future leaders across the university's campuses in Bangalore, Delhi NCR, and Lavasa.123

With over 40 years of experience in strategic planning and innovation, Pillai has held various significant positions throughout his career. He has served as an Independent Director for multiple organizations, gaining expertise in corporate governance, strategic planning, and digital transformation. His previous roles include Chief Transformation Officer at Leadership Matters Inc. and Sutherland, as well as Senior Executive Vice President of HR at Reliance Industries Limited, where he was instrumental in major change management initiatives.145

Pillai's career began as a management trainee with DCM in 1982, and he has since worked with notable companies such as HCL Technologies, Nortel Networks, and Hughes Communications India. His extensive background in leadership development, organizational transformation, and executive coaching has enabled him to empower businesses to achieve sustainable growth and operational excellence.45

In addition to his professional roles, Anand Pillai is recognized as a TEDx Speaker and has a passion for inspiring individuals and organizations to realize their full potential. He is also an alumnus of Christ University and holds a postgraduate certification in computer science from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore.14