CitiusTech appoints Dhaval Shah as Acting CEO; Rajan Kohli to exit in August

CitiusTech has announced a leadership transition, appointing Dhaval Shah as Acting Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect, while Rajan Kohli will step down as CEO by the end of August 2026 to pursue other opportunities.

The company also elevated Shyam Karunakaran, previously Chief Business Officer for Healthcare Payer and Platforms, to the role of President. He will oversee enterprise strategy, markets, growth and execution.

According to the company, the appointments are part of a succession plan already in place and reflect confidence in its leadership team as it enters its next phase of growth.

Leadership change comes amid AI-driven growth

The transition arrives as CitiusTech continues to expand its healthcare technology and enterprise AI business.

Dr William Winkenwerder Jr., Chairman of CitiusTech, said Shah and Karunakaran have been integral to the company's growth journey and currently lead more than 80% of its business.

He noted that healthcare organisations are accelerating AI adoption and increasingly seeking partners capable of translating technology investments into measurable outcomes. He added that both leaders have the board's full support to execute the company's strategic priorities.

The company said it delivered strong growth in FY26, placing its performance in the top quartile of technology services companies. It also reported continued momentum into FY27, alongside high client satisfaction levels and recognition from industry analysts.

Internal leaders move into expanded roles

Shah brings more than 19 years of experience at CitiusTech and has been involved in shaping the company's operating model, culture and business strategy since its early years.

Before his elevation, he served as Chief Business Officer for the company's MedTech and Life Sciences businesses.

Key highlights of Shah's tenure include:

• More than 19 years with CitiusTech
• Leadership roles across multiple business functions
• Responsibility for building and scaling the MedTech and Life Sciences businesses
• Long-standing involvement in the company's operational and cultural development

Commenting on the appointment, Shah said the company's vision to accelerate healthcare intelligence is already underway. He added that CitiusTech aims to make intelligence a core part of how healthcare organisations operate, make decisions and deliver outcomes.

President role expands Shyam Karunakaran’s mandate

Karunakaran has spent 17 years with the organisation and most recently served as Chief Business Officer for the Healthcare Payer and Platform businesses.

According to the company, he played a significant role in building and expanding those business segments.

His new responsibilities include:

• Enterprise strategy
• Market development
• Business growth
• Organisational execution

Karunakaran said he and Shah bring more than 36 years of combined experience at CitiusTech and are focused on guiding the company through its next stage of growth.

He also said the healthcare industry is being reshaped by AI and identified three areas where CitiusTech sees opportunity: the engineering layer, the intelligence layer and the agentic layer.

Rajan Kohli prepares to depart

Kohli will leave the organisation at the end of August after leading the company through a period of expansion and strategic development.

In a statement released by the company, he said the organisation strengthened partnerships across the healthcare ecosystem, enhanced client trust and built a foundation in AI capabilities that is now generating outcomes for customers.

He also expressed confidence in the incoming leadership team and wished Shah and Karunakaran success in their new roles.