Pravir Dahiya
CTO, Tata Teleservices
Pravir Dahiya, currently chief technology officer (CTO) at Tata Teleservices, has extensive experience in the sector, gained over a career spanning more than three decades. He currently oversees the development and deployment of resilient fixed and mobile broadband networks for the company. He is also responsible for aligning the company’s technology strategy with business initiatives, promoting customer-centric values to meet evolving customer demands, and fostering a culture of innovation and high performance.
“Our focus lies in bridging the gap between traditional business practices and modern technological solutions, enabling businesses to reach new customers, streamline operations and drive sustainable growth,” he says.
Dahiya notes that there is an increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), cloud computing, cybersecurity practices and digital transformation initiatives.
“Enterprises are investing heavily in cybersecurity solutions to protect their sensitive data by implementing advanced threat detection and prevention mechanisms,” says Dahiya. Businesses are also investing in technologies such as customer relationship management systems, marketing automation tools, and omnichannel communication platforms to deliver personalised experiences and streamline business processes. In terms of management style, Dahiya lays emphasis on the concept of servant leadership while adopting a directive style in situations that demand dramatic results. “I prefer not to rely on my position to motivate my team but to elicit inputs from them, empowering them to make decisions and take risks when appropriate, using persuasion,” he shares.
One of his most memorable assignments has been the roll-out of a brownfield telecom network in South Africa in less than a year. “We were the first telecom operator in the continent to be connected to all five undersea cable systems present in the country in 2007, which enabled us to bring world-class, low latency internet services to our customers,” he recalls.
Dahiya holds a bachelor’s degree in electronics and telecommunications engineering from BIT, Mesra, and has completed a senior management programme from IIM, Kolkata. He also holds the Cisco Certified Network Associate and PMP professional certifications. In addition, he was a part of the Tata Group Senior Leadership Seminar. Like most Indians, Dahiya is an avid cricket fan. Apart from cricket, he is passionate about rock music. He enjoys spending time with his family, which includes his wife, their two daughters and two cats.
