Rajiv Naithani is the Chief People Officer at Persistent, driving a talent strategy that blends AI innovation with a people-first approach. Under his leadership, Persistent is modernizing HR to create an inclusive and innovative workplace, enhance employee experience, and develop talent that supports the company’s growth in AI, cloud, and digital engineering.
With over two decades of distinguished experience in HR leadership, Rajiv specializes in organizational development, HR strategy, mergers & acquisitions, and talent management. Before joining Persistent, Rajiv was the Chief People Officer at Infogain, where he played a pivotal role in the successful shareholder exit of Chrys Capital and shaped HR strategies under Apax Partners’ ownership, cultivating a thriving, people-first culture across North America, Latin America, India, Europe, and Singapore.
Rajiv’s leadership propelled Infogain into the Top 100 Great Places to Work in India’s tech industry (GPTW Institute) for two consecutive years. He also led the company to a top 25 ranking for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belongingness (DEI&B) in the GPTW Institute’s 2024 listing. His prior roles at Dassault Systèmes, GlobalLogic, and HCL Technologies have honed his ability to build high-performing teams and align people strategies with business imperatives.
Rajiv holds a Master’s in People and Organizational Development from the University of Sussex, a Postgraduate HR Program from XLRI Jamshedpur, and a Senior Management Program from IIM-Calcutta, in addition to his degree from Delhi University.
Deeply committed to social impact, he serves as a Board Trustee for the Pauri Garhwal Trust, which empowers underprivileged communities in Uttarakhand.
Beyond work, Rajiv champions holistic well-being, valuing physical, mental, intellectual, and spiritual growth. Passionate about fitness, he enjoys yoga, trekking, cycling, running, and sports such as cricket and table tennis, believing that an active lifestyle fuels resilience.
Rajiv is married to Anjali, a senior FICO professional at PwC. They have two school-going daughters. He treasures family time and remains dedicated to continuous learning, mentorship, and giving back to the community.