Times Internet appoints Rahul K. Rao as chief information officer

NOIDA: Times Internet has strengthened its technology leadership team with the appointment of Rahul K. Rao as chief information officer, bringing on board a seasoned executive with extensive experience across cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, IT strategy and enterprise transformation.

In his new role at Times Internet, Rao will be responsible for enhancing the organisation’s technology ecosystem, driving innovation-led growth and aligning technology investments with business priorities.

The appointment marks the latest chapter in a career spanning more than 15 years across technology infrastructure, cloud operations, network engineering and digital transformation.

Rao joins Times Internet from Pine Labs, where he served as director of cloud, IT infrastructure and DevOps. During his tenure, he led initiatives spanning multi-cloud environments, enterprise IT operations, DevOps automation, networking, infrastructure modernisation and global technology operations. He also played a key role in scaling the company’s technology capabilities to support its growth ambitions.

Before Pine Labs, Rao spent nearly three years at Apollo Tyres as divisional head of cloud technologies and IT infrastructure. There, he led cloud migration programmes, infrastructure modernisation and cybersecurity initiatives, while overseeing large-scale technology transformation projects designed to improve operational efficiency and system performance.

His experience also includes more than four years with Bharti Airtel, where he held leadership positions in cloud operations and engineering. In those roles, he was responsible for designing scalable network architectures, managing cloud platforms and driving data centre transformation programmes across multiple geographies.

Earlier in his career, Rao spent over six years at Accenture, leading infrastructure consulting, network transformation and technology modernisation projects for large enterprises and global organisations.

Known for his expertise in cloud adoption, cybersecurity, DevOps, automation and IT governance, Rao has consistently focused on building secure, scalable and future-ready technology environments. His leadership philosophy centres on combining business objectives with technology execution, while fostering collaboration and innovation across teams.

The appointment comes at a time when digital-first businesses are increasing investments in cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence, automation and cybersecurity to support growth and improve customer experiences. For Times Internet, bringing in a technology leader with deep enterprise transformation experience signals a continued focus on strengthening its digital backbone and preparing for the next phase of innovation.

With experience spanning fintech, telecom, manufacturing and consulting, Rao is expected to play a pivotal role in helping Times Internet navigate an increasingly complex technology landscape while accelerating its digital ambitions.