Global biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has appointed Naveen Krishna Yamarthi as Managing Director of AstraZeneca India Private Limited (AZIPL) and Head of its Global Innovation & Technology Centre (GITC) in Chennai, effective October 30, 2026.
The appointment places Yamarthi in charge of the company's India-based technology operations, with a mandate to strengthen the Chennai centre's role as a strategic, multifunctional innovation hub supporting AstraZeneca's global business.
According to the company, Yamarthi will oversee the next phase of the centre's development, focusing on technology capabilities, business transformation and innovation across enterprise functions.
His expanded responsibilities will also support AstraZeneca's Bold Ambition 2030 strategy, which outlines the company's longer-term business and innovation priorities.
Yamarthi brings more than 22 years of experience in technology leadership, including establishing and scaling Global Capability Centres (GCCs) and managing technology-led business transformation.
He has previously held several leadership positions within AstraZeneca's Operations IT division, where he was responsible for IT Capability and IT Solutions & Service Delivery across the company's Global Supply Chain, Global Procurement and Manufacturing business units.
These roles involved supporting technology systems and services used across AstraZeneca's international operations, including functions associated with manufacturing, procurement and supply chain management.
Before joining AstraZeneca in his earlier leadership capacity, Yamarthi served as Managing Director of Enlighted Energy Systems Private Limited, where he established the company's Global Capability Centres.
His experience in developing GCC operations is expected to support AstraZeneca's efforts to expand the responsibilities of its Chennai technology centre beyond conventional IT service delivery.
AstraZeneca's Global Innovation & Technology Centre in Chennai serves as a hub for information technology, global business services and operational functions, including supply chain and strategy.
The centre forms part of the company's wider India-based capability network, which supports business processes across its international operations.
AstraZeneca also operates a Bengaluru hub focused on research and development, global business services, information technology and digital health capabilities.
Together, the facilities contribute to technology development and business support activities across the pharmaceutical company's global value chain.
The Chennai centre has been part of AstraZeneca's India operations since 2014 and has progressively expanded its responsibilities to support digital transformation and technology programmes.
The latest leadership appointment comes as multinational companies continue to develop their Indian GCCs into centres responsible for specialised technology, business transformation and innovation activities.
For AstraZeneca, Yamarthi's mandate will involve further developing the Chennai facility's existing capabilities while supporting the company's global technology requirements.
The company has not disclosed specific investment commitments, additional hiring targets or operational expansion timelines associated with the appointment.
Further details regarding the centre's planned development and new initiatives have yet to be announced.
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