Say hello to our Leaders

Anji Maram is the founder and chief executive officer of CriticalRiver, a leading technology consulting company. He is responsible for all aspects of the company’s growth strategy, team, operations and initiatives across CR’s global network of nine offices. He co-founded CriticalRiver in 2014 with the vision to capture digital-disruption opportunities, unlock true value across technology and services, improve operational efficiency and provide customers with maximum satisfaction.

Prior to starting CriticalRiver, Anji worked extensively in technology-based companies, holding key leadership positions in many firms, including Oracle. Anji was part of the original team that created the Oracle Software that millions use even today. Between 2006 and 2009, Anji worked as the Oracle applications solution architect at Sun Microsystems. He was also the managing partner and vice-president (technologies, architecture, delivery & off-shore operations) at Selectiva Systems Inc from 2008 to 2011.

Based in San Ramon, USA, Anji is an alumnus of UCLA, University of Louisiana, and BITS Pilani, India.
Anji is committed to giving back to society and to the people he grew up with. He is keen on making a difference for the underprivileged. As part of his commitment, Anji founded the Medville Corporation in 2015 which aimed at reaching out to international patients seeking medical treatment in the US. Anji often describes himself as the chief empathy officer, a quality he prizes in every member of the growing CriticalRiver family.

Chandrasekhar Chandragiri, CFO and co-founder of CriticalRiver, has over 20 years of experience in Technology consulting services and technology business development. He has been offering his technical expertise in creating long-term core applications and has been instrumental in driving the company’s growth to over $50 million annually.

As the CFO, he has played a key role in establishing the company’s strong presence and lasting customer relationships in the Oracle HCM field. He founded CriticalRiver with the commitment of developing and implementing strategies and technologies that provide business value and enhance customer satisfaction.

Chandra has an extensive experience across multiple organizations. Prior to joining CriticalRiver, Chandra was the Principal at IHireRite Inc. He has also worked as the Principal Applications Engineer for Oracle Corporation. Chandra has also worked as an intern in IBM Global Services and Sun Microsystems.

The alumnus of BITS, Pilani, and University of Louisiana at Lafayette, he currently resides and works out of San Ramon, USA. Chandra is a life-long learner and has a long-term commitment to achieving impact in the technology world. He is a Business Graduate from UCLA Anderson School of Business.

Sunil Sharma is the Global Head of Innovation and Digital Solutions at CriticalRiver. Sunil has an impressive 25 years of experience in driving transformational growth and he brings an exceptional track record of delivering substantial revenue increases and pioneering innovative solutions.

Prior to joining CriticalRiver, Sunil spearheaded digital science and data strategy at Thermofisher, which resulted in a remarkable revenue gain of $700 million in 2022. Prior to this, he made significant contributions at ADP, where he established an IPaaS platform that serviced an impressive 200,000 clients, leading to an incremental revenue boost of $100 million.

Sunil holds multidisciplinary qualifications and certifications, including Chief Digital Officer (CDO) from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Management and an MBA in IT and Financial Management from ICFAI Business School.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Sunil shares his knowledge as an adjunct professor at Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) and UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, where he teaches courses on digital transformation and data strategy.

Murthy is the Executive Vice President and Global Delivery Head at CriticalRiver Inc. In this role, he leads initiatives dedicated to ensuring customer success, driving revenue growth, overseeing sales solutions and support, enhancing service delivery excellence, and cultivating employee satisfaction across company centers in Brazil, Costa Rica, India, the Philippines, and the USA.

With an impressive track record spanning over 30 years, Murthy has been instrumental in spearheading enterprise transformation initiatives across various technologies for several Fortune 10 and 100 customers across the world in the USA and India. His journey began as a computer scientist at the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) of India, followed by roles at HCL America, Tech Mahindra, GSPANN Technologies, and serving as the Chief Digital Officer for ImAvatar Technologies, a pioneering Faith-Tech Company. In this journey, Murthy had grown high performing delivery teams and innovative technology competencies across the world.

Murthy’s expertise has been recognized through his involvement in advisory roles for AIIM and as a frequent speaker at prestigious events such as EMC World, Oracle World, Agora, Adobe, AIIM, Vignette Village, and OpenText Content World.

Hailing from India, Murthy pursued his master’s in computer science at the School of Computer Science, College of Engineering, Andhra University, and furthered his academic journey with an MBA from Indira Gandhi National Open University. Murthy is currently based out of our India office in Hyderabad.

Scott Birdsong is Senior Vice-president of CriticalRiver’s Utilities division, a global operation that specializes in mission critical Engineering & IT services for Electric, Gas, Water and Wastewater needs. From go-to-market strategy to demand generation and fulfillment, Scott leads all Sales and Delivery activities for the sector. His executive leadership responsibilities include talent acquisition and development, capabilities buildout, forging strategic alliances and partnerships, and cultivating strong customer and peer relationships across the industry.

Scott’s brings more than 25 years of technology services experience in the Utilities space with a track record for integrity, quality, and innovation in everything he does. Since joining CriticalRiver in 2019, he has led a formative expansion of the Utilities group on a global scale, growing the team from 36 to more than 150 professional engineers, IT consultants, team leaders and operational support in the United States, Canada, India, Costa Rica, and The Philippines.

Prior to joining CriticalRiver, Scott held IT and management consulting positions with industry giants such as Infosys, Accenture, IBM, Black & Veatch, and Capgemini. He served two terms as Chairman of the Oracle Applications Users Group (OAUG) – Energy & Utilities SIG, designed and managed large Utilities transformation programs, and twice been accredited with CIS (Customer Information System) Implementation Project of the Year awards (2019, 2021). Scott graduated cum laude with Honors from the University of Houston. He and his wife, Deena, are currently building their forever home in the rolling landscape of the Texas Hill Country near Austin, TX.

Enay is the partner and managing director at CriticalRiver Inc, heading the India and APAC region operations. In his role, Enay is responsible for leading the business across the regions, designing and implementing business strategies, plans and procedures and setting comprehensive goals for performance and growth. He has over 20 years of experience in techno-managerial business development positions and has been delivering innovative software solutions at leading Tier 2 organizations and startups.

He joined CriticalRiver in 2017 as the vice-president of operations. Earlier, Enay had founded a company Opent IT Services, in which he served as the managing director. Prior to that, Enay worked in companies like Selectiva Software Solutions, Analytixds, Aztec Software and Technology Services, Bristlecone and Polaris Financial Technology Limited, where he was instrumental in modernizing business applications, building business intelligence platforms and transforming companies.

A true believer in technology, Enay is best known for his credo: “Tech is the Future; the Future is Tech.” The BITS Pilani alumnus is based out of Hyderabad, India.

Scott Van Dam is the Senior Director and Growth Leader of CriticalRiver’s Energy & Water division, a global operation that specializes in mission-critical engineering and IT services for electric, gas, water, and wastewater utilities. Scott’s responsibilities include driving business growth by developing and implementing strategic initiatives to expand market presence, increase revenue, and enhance customer engagement.

Scott brings more than 20 years of technology experience, 15 of which have been dedicated to providing technology solutions to the utility industry. He has a proven track record of driving market expansion through innovation, quality, and customer engagement.

Prior to joining CriticalRiver, Scott held management positions at Fortune 100 companies, including Oracle and UPS. He also served as a growth leader for several consulting organizations, including Meridian Integration and Vertex. Scott has been recognized with three CIS (Customer Information System) Implementation of the Year awards (2017, 2018, 2020). He is an alumnus of the University of Toronto and Sheridan College.

Scott resides and works out of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. In his spare time, you will find him enjoying recreational activities in the mountains or racing his sailboat on Okanagan Lake.

As the vice-president and a key member of the executive team, Lavanya is responsible for heading the sales team for APAC and Europe region in CriticalRiver. She brings in 16 years of experience in sales and business development and is responsible for the growth of the company in the Asia Pacific region. She joined CriticalRiver in 2020. Previously, Lavanya served as the assistant vice-president of sales for ABSYZ Inc. She has been associated with software development services company Sri Prathinik Consulting, social-mobile-cloud company Pressmart, The Hackett Group and Koncept Ambience.

Lavanya has completed her education from St. Joseph college for Women and lives and works out of Hyderabad.

Vikram Lahiri serves as the senior director of Salesforce Studio at CriticalRiver, where he drives global strategy for Salesforce technology solutions. His forward-thinking leadership is a catalyst for innovation, consistently delivering exceptional value to clients around the world. With over 20 years of experience in technology product management and cloud transformation, Vikram is renowned for his ability to lead large-scale projects that redefine industry standards. His expertise lies in navigating complex cloud technology landscapes and implementing solutions that empower businesses.

Before joining CriticalRiver, Vikram held senior leadership roles in leading organizations, including Skechers, Albertsons, Vonage, and Larsen & Toubro Infotech (LTI). At LTI, he directed the Salesforce practice for North America, managing the SMART Cloud Engineering Division and both onshore and offshore teams for Salesforce and AWS solutions. His strategic insights were crucial in executing transformative cloud initiatives for high-profile clients such as FOX, VIACOM, Exxon Mobil, Disney, and Honda.

Vikram is an alumnus of Ranchi University and has further honed his expertise through advanced studies at Harvard Business School, equipping him to adeptly navigate the fast-paced tech landscape.

As a global leader in Salesforce industry, Vikram is committed to fostering a culture of excellence and innovation. He prioritizes collaboration, empowering teams and clients alike to achieve transformative results in their digital journeys. With a passion for driving change, Vikram is a trusted partner in the ever-evolving world of technology.

As Vice President of Marketing at CriticalRiver Inc., Reet is leading the charge in shaping and executing a holistic marketing strategy that directly aligns with the company’s overarching business objectives. Renowned for her proficiency in constructing robust organizational ecosystems, Reet focuses on optimizing the entire customer experience while forging stronger connections with sales efforts. Her strategic vision encompasses a 360-degree perspective, and she specializes in crafting dynamic Go-To-Market (GTM) blueprints tailored to meet the demands of the global market.

Reet also takes on the comprehensive responsibility of managing public relations and analyst relations initiatives strategically, not only to fortify marketing objectives but also to optimize positive exposure in international markets.

Before joining CriticalRiver, Reet held the position of Head of Marketing Communications at Cyient, contributing to her well-rounded expertise. She has also made significant contributions to other esteemed organizations, including Region Holdings, Sistema Shyam Teleservices Ltd., and DLF. Reet’s extensive business travels in the EMEA and US regions have equipped her with a global perspective, and her experience working with diverse backgrounds positions her as a dynamic marketing leader capable of steering CriticalRiver Inc.’s marketing strategy towards excellence.

Pani Peddi is the Associate Vice President of ERP Applications & Solutions at CriticalRiver’s ERP Studio. He leads a worldwide team responsible for managing ERP projects across the globe and driving distribution solution architecture.

Pani brings 24 years of experience in finance, accounting, auditing, and reporting. He has deep expertise in ERP Financials, Projects, Distribution, and Global Compliance, including US GAAP, IFRS, FASB, SOX, Process Re-engineering, ICM & SC, and enterprise solution architecture for globally operating clients.

In addition to being a Qualified Chartered Accountant, Chartered Financial Analyst, and a Management Graduate from IIM, Pani holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law. He completed his JD and MS in CJA from Ferris State University, Michigan, specializing in Financial Management for CJ Agencies. Pani is a multi-certified professional in ERP, Cloud, Security, Compliance, and Data Governance.

Prior to joining CriticalRiver, Pani held senior positions at Apolis, RJT Solution Beacon, and served as the Director of ASCENT (AIMS). He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India (ICFAI), and the Bar Council of India. A well-known public speaker on Corporate Compliance and Global Enterprise Advisory, Pani is currently based in Chicago, USA.

Subbarao (Subbu) Kapila is the vice-president and head of services delivery and presales at CriticalRiver since 2020. In his role, he is responsible for multiple practices in digital transformation and business integration. Subbu is a highly accomplished global executive with over 25 years of IT service experience. He comes with deep expertise in conceptualizing, creating strategic roadmaps, and building and leading global engineering solutions and services teams to improve the top-line and bottom-line of the company. Subbu has successfully built critical teams and relationships that ensure business growth continuity in his role.

Previously, Subbu held various leadership roles in Cyient in Global Delivery, Global Innovation, and Global Sales/Pre-sales & overseeing business development processes and client engagement. He has also worked with Satyam Computer Services Ltd (Tech M) and GE-IBC.

Subbu is an alumnus of Marathwada University, Aurangabad, and has a management degree from GITAM University & also a Research Scholar. He lives and works out of Hyderabad.

Arundhati Ashoka is CriticalRiver’s global human resource officer, responsible for overseeing the company’s global people operations as well as recruiting, fostering, and retaining the talent needed to achieve its business goals. She establishes the high-performance workplace culture required for continued international expansion.

Arundhati is a seasoned HR professional with an outstanding background in people and customer relations. Prior to joining CriticalRiver, she held responsible positions in various MNCs. She has been a champion of diversity and inclusion efforts throughout her career.

The alumnus of Bangalore University currently resides and works out of Austin, TX.

In his role as an independent director at CriticalRiver Inc., Raju Reddy leverages his extensive experience and expertise from the technology and venture capital sectors.

As a Venture Partner and Principal at SVQ, he has been a tech entrepreneur for over 20 years and a venture angel for a decade, with 30 investments yielding significant successes including two exits and a prospective 100X+ Unicorn IPO.

Reddy’s career began at Intel, followed by his role as Founder and CEO of Sierra Atlantic, which was acquired by Hitachi in 2011. He currently holds advisory positions in several innovative companies like Eltropy, Flam, SciSpace, GreyOrange, HealthCube, Hover, Modern Meadow, Quizizz and Seclore.

Raju is an active TiE Silicon Valley charter member and served as Convener for TiEcon 2016. He previously served as the Chairman of BITSAA Intl., the alumni body of BITS Pilani university.

At CriticalRiver, Reddy’s expertise in operational leadership and investment acumen plays a pivotal role in shaping the company’s strategic direction and growth.

As a senior advisory board member at CriticalRiver Inc., Phaneesh Murthy brings extensive expertise from his time at leading IT firms, including Infosys and iGate.

In his previous role as a Global Sales Head at Infosys Ltd, he was widely credited for escalating the organization’s revenues from $2 million to $700 million in less than a decade. Joining iGATE as CEO in 2003, Phaneesh led the company until 2013. Under his leadership, iGATE’s revenues soared to approximately $1.2 billion, firmly establishing it as a significant player in the global outsourcing market.

With a career that spans various pivotal roles including Managing Director and Worldwide Head of Sales and Marketing, Phaneesh is recognized for his visionary approach.

His role is central to shaping CriticalRiver’s operational strategies and sales initiatives, laying the groundwork for a successful IPO and future advancements.

Phaneesh holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad as well as a BS from the Indian Institute of Technology in Chennai.

Tony serves as the Vice President and Head of IT at Five9. He has previously held leadership positions at AT&T, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Tiburon, and Wind River Systems.

Tony has more than 20 years of experience in business and IT transformation, and a reputation for building and leading high-performance global, cross-functional teams in highly matrixed organizations. He is skilled at developing and delivering strategic solutions to further key business objectives.

Tony is based in Pleasanton, California. He holds a BBA from Simpson and an MBA in Computer Information Systems from California State University – Hayward.

As Advisory Board Member at CriticalRiver, Venkat brings 25+ years of IT experience with expertise in hyper-growth companies. At present, he serves as the Chief Information Officer at Ichor Systems Inc. He has previously held leadership positions at Neo Photonics Corp, JDS Uniphase Corp., and Oracle Corp.

Venkat’s experience spans global service delivery, applications development, support, IT security, strategy, and transformation, with a proven track record in each area. He has been a featured speaker on subjects such as technology, cloud, and IT transformation.

Venkat is based in San Ramon, California, and holds a BS in Engineering from PSG College of Technology, India.

Ghanim is an innovative and results-driven leader focused on achieving exceptional results in highly competitive environments that demand continuous improvement. He specializes in driving projects and customer service improvements while building partnerships with key business decision-makers. Ghanim enjoys building and motivating cross-functional teams to exceed expectations.

At present, Ghanim is Board Member and Acting CEO at the B7 Group of Companies in the UAE. He has held several other high-impact positions dealing with strategic planning, megaprojects, customer relationship management, commercial excellence, innovation, and digital technology.

Ghanim is based in the UAE.