ObserveNow organized its first CIO-focused residential event, ‘CIO Retreat 2026‘, on Oct 23rd and 24th, at Westin Sohna Resort and Spa in Gurugram. This invite-only, one-night two-day event gathered India’s top 60 senior technology leaders, stepping away from operational dashboards, transformation roadmaps, and vendor pitches to confront a question that rarely enters public tech forums: The Unwritten Rules of the Boardroom.
The Retreat was supported by NTT DATA and Google Cloud (Presenting Partner), InputZero & Servicenow ( Powered by Partner), Redington, Ample and Apple ( Platinum Partner), HashiCorp (Gold Partner).
ObserveNow AI (Data Intelligence Partner), Khaas Gifts (Gifting Partner), MGood (AI Healthcare Partner) and Pleasin Strides Foundation ( CSR Partner).
From Managing Systems to Advising on Value
The retreat’s central premise was blunt: technology leaders are no longer judged only by uptime, delivery milestones or digital program completion. In the boardroom, their work is assessed through the language of growth, risk, resilience and capital allocation.
Day 1 kickstarted with the opening remarks by Taniya Tikoo, Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief, ObserveNow Media, welcoming all the industry leaders. She shared ObserveNow’s journey and the vision behind this retreat.
The first panel discussion was on the topic: Winning Budget, Trust and Airtime with Non-Tech Leadership. It brought together Ashok Nayak, CIO, Ipca Laboratories; Chander Khanduja, Group CIDO, Baxy Group; Dilraj Singh Gandhi, Chief Digital Officer, TAFE; Dr. Shakti Goel, Chief Architect & Data Scientist, Yatra Online; and Tarun Anand, Group CIO, Jakson Group. Moderated by Yashvendra Singh, Editor, CIONOW, the discussion explored how CIOs can strengthen their influence in the boardroom by aligning technology investments with business priorities.
Panelists emphasized the importance of translating technical initiatives into measurable business outcomes, building stakeholder trust before formal budget discussions, and tailoring proposals to C-suite priorities. The conversation also examined how technology leaders can defend long-term investments during budget constraints and earn a permanent place in strategic decision-making.
Scaling Smarter: The Strategic Role of M&A and Alliances
Another panel, “Architecting the Modern Enterprise: Boardroom Strategies for M&A, Ecosystem Alliances, and Accelerated Growth,” brought together Gyan Pandey, CIO, Polycab; Atul Govil, CTO, India Glycols; Annapurna Devi Kuchibatla, CTO, Bajaj Electricals; Rajiv Mishra, CIO, Hindustan Times; and Priya Dar, CIO, Valvoline Cummins. Moderated by Geetha Nandikotkur, Senior Vice President – Editorial & Conferences, APAC, ObserveNow, the discussion explored how organizations can leverage Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), strategic partnerships, and ecosystem alliances to accelerate growth, enter new markets, and access emerging capabilities.
The panelists examined the challenges of integrating business cultures and technology systems, managing execution risks, and ensuring that acquisitions and alliances deliver lasting business value.
The conversation also highlighted how boards must weigh the speed of market expansion against the risks of strategic misalignment, particularly when entering unfamiliar markets or adopting new business models. It reinforced the importance of involving technology leaders early in growth decisions to assess commercial viability and technological compatibility before commitments are made.
The day saw industry presentations by Google Cloud and NTT DATA; ServiceNow and InputZero Technologies; Redington, Apple and Ample; and HashiCorp.
Narinder Singh, Partner Sales Manager, Google Cloud, highlighted cloud’s role in helping organizations respond to evolving business needs and advance their digital ambitions.
Chitra M, Senior Manager – Solution Consulting, ServiceNow, and Anshul Agarwal, Senior Advisory Consultant, InputZero Technologies, discussed aligning technology initiatives with business priorities.
Sriharsha Gummadi, Apple Practice Head, Ample Technologies, outlined Apple’s role in meeting changing workplace and enterprise technology needs.
Simranjeet Singh, Brand Technical Specialist, HashiCorp, focused on infrastructure automation, identity security in agent-driven environments and governance across increasingly complex technology ecosystems.
ObserveNow Expands Its Focus to Cybersecurity Leadership
A key milestone at the CIO Retreat 2026 was the launch of CISONOW, a new ObserveNow vertical dedicated to cybersecurity leaders and the evolving challenges shaping enterprise security. The launch reflects the growing importance of cybersecurity in boardroom discussions, where leaders are increasingly expected to balance risk, resilience, regulatory demands, and business growth.
CISONOW aims to create a dedicated platform for conversations around cybersecurity strategy, emerging threats, and the changing responsibilities of security leaders in an increasingly digital enterprise.
Alongside the main sessions, four roundtable discussions ran in parallel, allowing participants to exchange perspectives, discuss emerging challenges, and engage in more focused conversations with fellow technology leaders.
Gala Night: An Evening of Magic, Music and Celebration
The CIO Retreat 2026 Day 1 concluded with a fantastic Gala Night. Leaders had a chance to relax after a busy day thanks to illusionist Clifford’s enthralling magic presentation, which started the evening with an element of surprise and delight.
A karaoke session was held as part of the festivities, with CIOs and their families taking center stage. They shared jokes, music, and moments of companionship outside of the boardroom. Dinner brought everyone together for a laid-back evening of celebration and camaraderie.
From Boardroom Discussions to Outdoor Fun
Day two brought a more relaxed pace, with CIOs trading boardroom conversations for go-karting and a game of cricket. The morning offered a chance to unwind, enjoy some friendly competition, and connect informally with peers.
The activities captured the spirit of the retreat: creating space not only for meaningful professional exchanges but also for recreation, relationships, and time away from the everyday demands of leadership.
