Strategic appointment aims to deepen local market reach and AI-driven CRM adoption
Salesforce has announced the elevation of Mankiran Chowhan to Managing Director, Sales & Distribution, India, underscoring the company’s commitment to expanding its footprint in one of the fastest-growing digital markets.
In her new role, Chowhan will be responsible for leading Salesforce’s go-to-market strategy, sales performance, and customer engagements across verticals in India. She brings over two decades of enterprise leadership experience to the role.
Chowhan, who joined Salesforce in 2021, previously served as Vice President & Business Head for Financial Services & Consumer Industries (FCI). Prior to Salesforce, she spent more than 15 years at Gartner, advising global and Indian CXOs on business growth, technology adoption, and digital transformation.
Deepening Focus on India’s Enterprise AI Growth
India continues to be a critical market for Salesforce, driven by rising demand for automation, AI-powered CRM, and sector-specific solutions. As Managing Director, Chowhan will work closely with Salesforce’s executive leadership to implement scalable enterprise strategies and industry partnerships.
Based in Mumbai, she reports to Arundhati Bhattacharya, Chairperson & CEO of Salesforce India.
Speaking about her new role in her LinkedIn post, Chowhan stated, “India is a strategic market for Salesforce. I look forward to empowering our teams, partners, and customers to succeed in a rapidly digitizing landscape.”
This leadership move aligns with Salesforce’s ongoing strategy of placing strong local leadership to better address regional opportunities and customer needs.
Track Record in Enterprise and Transformation
Chowhan has led large enterprise deployments for financial services and consumer brands, emphasizing customer-centricity, operational agility, and data intelligence. Her strategic acumen has contributed significantly to Salesforce’s growth in key accounts, especially in banking, insurance, and retail.
Her prior advisory experience at Gartner adds strength to her understanding of digital maturity models and how enterprises transition from traditional CRM platforms to intelligent, AI-enabled ecosystems.
Reinforcing AI-Led Sales Strategy
Salesforce India has been scaling adoption of tools like Einstein GPT, Slack integrations, and industry clouds to help companies modernize operations and personalize customer engagement. Chowhan’s appointment is expected to catalyze these efforts further, particularly in mid-market and Tier 2 segments.
As more enterprises look to integrate generative AI into their sales, service, and marketing processes, Salesforce is investing in leadership that can bridge the technology-strategy gap for its Indian customer base.
Industry watchers note that Chowhan’s elevation reflects a wider trend of empowering seasoned domain leaders to drive AI transformation across markets.
A Step Forward for Women in Tech Leadership
In an industry still striving toward gender equity in senior roles, Chowhan’s new mandate is seen as a progressive move. As one of the few women leading a major technology firm’s sales operations in India, she serves as a visible role model for aspiring women leaders in enterprise tech.
Her career trajectory—from long-standing advisor at Gartner to leading strategic enterprise growth at Salesforce—highlights the value of deep domain expertise and cross-functional leadership.
Looking Ahead: Scale, Ecosystems, and Trust
As Managing Director, Chowhan is expected to focus on expanding Salesforce’s customer base in newer markets, strengthening partner ecosystems, and aligning the company’s AI roadmap with evolving business and regulatory landscapes.
Key priorities will include:
- Enhancing enterprise adoption of AI-led CRM tools
- Driving vertical-specific customer success programs
- Scaling digital transformation in underserved regions
Salesforce continues to consolidate its position in India with over 7,000 employees and a growing base of ISV and channel partners. With Chowhan at the helm of sales and distribution, the company aims to maintain its upward trajectory in delivering trust, scale, and innovation to the Indian enterprise market.