MAM
Rajesh Rai is McCann Healthcare ECD
MUMBAI: McCann Healthcare has appointed Rajesh Rai as Sr. VP and ECD.
Rai moves in from Sorento Healthcare Communications where he was working as EVP and Chief Creative Officer.
McCann Worldgroup India executive chairman and CEO Prasoon Joshi said, “Healthcare and wellness is a strategic focus for McCann Worldgroup and I see tremendous potential for growth in this area. To further empower McCann Healthcare for robust growth and pioneering, game-changing work, Rajesh Rai will be joining as the ECD. I know him since my very early days in advertising. I have great memories of him as a professional and a person who led, motivated and guided. Rajesh will be a catalyst towards raising the bar of our creative product across Medical, Pharma and Consumer Healthcare marketing communication. And I see Rajesh and Sohan becoming a formidable team in the healthcare space”.
McCann Healthcare India Sr. VP and GM added, “Rajesh is a proficient leader driven by clear thinking that translates into effective creative solutions. I look forward to partnering with him to set new benchmarks for integrated healthcare communication in our industry.”
Rai brings in almost three decades of experience in the communication industry. He has been in the healthcare communication space since 2004.
Prior to this he has also worked with Ogilvy One as NCD and Everest Integrated Communications Ltd. (DY&R Agency) as VP and Sr. creative director.
Digital
Maharashtra partners OpenAI, Sarvam AI to boost state’s tech ecosystem
State to set up dedicated AI department and roll out frontier technology policies
MUMBAI: Maharashtra is set to become a primary hub for artificial intelligence following the 2026–27 Budget announcement. chief minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed that the state has signed letters of intent with global giant OpenAI and national pioneer Sarvam AI to integrate advanced technology into the state’s economic and administrative framework.
The collaboration with OpenAI and Sarvam AI marks a shift towards adopting cutting-edge generative tools for governance. These partnerships, alongside MoUs with IIT Bombay and BharatGen, are designed to create a robust ecosystem for research and innovation. The move signals the state’s intent to bring together global technology leaders and domestic research institutions to accelerate the development and adoption of artificial intelligence across sectors.
Regarding the strategic intent of these alliances, chief minister Fadnavis stated, “With the objective of making the State’s Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence sector dynamic, letters of intent have been signed with globally and nationally reputed institutions like OpenAI and Sarvam AI to facilitate the Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence sector in the state.”
To manage these high-level partnerships and ensure effective implementation, the government is establishing an independent department of electronics, Information technology, and artificial intelligence. The new department will function with a dedicated commissionerate and specialised technical manpower, enabling faster decision-making, improved coordination, and stronger accountability in executing technology-driven initiatives.
The state also plans to introduce special policies aimed at strengthening its position in emerging technology sectors. These policies will focus on advancing Maharashtra as a global hub for frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, drones, autonomous vehicles, and deep technology.
According to the chief minister, “The state government plans to introduce special policies to develop Maharashtra as a world-class hub for frontier technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, quantum computing, drones, autonomous vehicles and deep technology.”
Artificial intelligence is already being integrated into the state’s governance framework. A collaboration with Microsoft has led to the development of MahaCrimeOS AI, a platform that has reportedly reduced police investigation times by 80 per cent across 23 police stations in Nagpur. The initiative demonstrates how AI-driven tools can significantly enhance law enforcement efficiency and data analysis capabilities.
The government is also working toward building a fully digitised administrative ecosystem. Plans are underway to achieve complete digitisation of land transactions and implement electronic office systems across departments, paving the way for a paperless government. In addition, a pilot project will introduce AI-powered solutions in 75 selected villages to improve infrastructure, governance efficiency, and overall quality of life in rural areas.
To strengthen digital infrastructure and data protection, the state also intends to establish an advanced data centre in Nagpur. This facility will be designed to safeguard sensitive and sovereign information while supporting large-scale digital services and government platforms.
These initiatives form part of Maharashtra’s broader cyber security and digital transformation strategy aligned with the Viksit Maharashtra 2047 vision. By partnering with global and domestic technology leaders such as OpenAI and Sarvam AI, the state aims to build a secure, future-ready digital ecosystem that enhances citizen services, supports innovation, and strengthens India’s position in emerging technologies.
