Karthik Narain appointed Google Cloud’s first Chief Product and Business Officer

London: In a move aimed at accelerating its growth in artificial intelligence and enterprise technology, Google Cloud has appointed Karthik Narain as its new Chief Product and Business Officer. The announcement was made by Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian in a LinkedIn post earlier this week.

Kurian wrote, “Today we welcome Karthik Narain to Google Cloud as Chief Product & Business Officer. He will lead product and engineering teams across cloud, developer, data and Applied AI, the go-to-market organisation, and work closely with Google Public Sector. Karthik’s proven track record with clients, along with his unparalleled depth of experience in developing enterprise technology solutions, will accelerate our customers’ journey into the AI era. Welcome to the team, Karthik!”

Narain responded by sharing Kurian’s post and voicing his enthusiasm for the role. “After more than 25 years in the tech consulting industry, I am excited to share the next chapter of my career – I am joining @GoogleCloud as its first Chief Product & Business Officer,” he wrote. “This is an incredible opportunity to combine my expertise in engineering and product strategy, and my experience with enterprise systems and business processes with Google’s world-class foundational technologies and cutting-edge AI innovation to drive profound digital transformation. The opportunity to unlock immense value for Google Cloud’s customers and partners is unparalleled, and I can’t wait to get started!”

Google CEO Sundar Pichai also welcomed Narain, describing him as a “key leader” in the company’s ongoing cloud and AI strategy. “I’m excited that Karthik Narain is joining Google Cloud as its Chief Product and Business Officer, a key leader on Thomas Kurian's exceptional team. Karthik will partner closely with our Cloud customers as they transform their businesses with AI. In his new role, Karthik will help accelerate the strong growth we are already seeing in Google Cloud. Just over a week ago, we announced Gemini Enterprise, which has had a really positive response. Much more to come, welcome Karthik!” Pichai wrote on LinkedIn.

Who is Karthik Narain?

Narain brings over two decades of experience in technology consulting and enterprise solutions. Prior to joining Google, he served as Chief Technology Officer at Accenture and also held the role of Group Executive – Technology. Earlier in his career, between 2005 and 2015, he was Vice President and Vertical Head for High Tech, Software & Platforms, and Automotive at HCLTech.

He holds a Master’s degree in Computer Systems and Business from Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli.

Narain’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for Google Cloud, as the company continues to scale its AI capabilities and expand its offerings for enterprise clients.