Sandeep Kalra serves as the Executive Director and CEO on the Board of Persistent Systems.
Sandeep has more than 30 years of experience in the IT services industry, with a track record of revitalizing businesses to boost growth and profitability. Highly regarded for his passion and growth-oriented mindset, Sandeep has expanded on Persistent’s impressive Digital Engineering pedigree to become an industry leader.
Under his tenure as CEO, Persistent has surpassed $1 billion in annual revenue and evolved from a specialized technology provider into a dynamic full-stack, digital transformation partner and a strong global brand. His leadership has positioned Persistent as a trusted enterprise provider in foundational technologies such as product and platform development, data and analytics, application and infrastructure modernization, as well as cloud for key industry verticals. In addition, his focus on innovation has established Persistent as a leader in cutting-edge technologies like intelligent automation, AI and GenAI. Sandeep’s commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance issues (ESG) has resulted in numerous awards, including Persistent’s addition to the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI), demonstrating the Company’s excellence in sustainability performance as well as being recognized by Dun & Bradstreet as an ESG Champion of India. Sandeep is also well-known throughout the industry for fostering talent and executive leaders as well as building a dynamic and welcoming culture.
Acknowledging his contributions to the IT sector, Fortune India recognized Sandeep as the Best CEO in the IT Services (mid-cap) category for 2025, alongside Dr. Anand Deshpande, and in 2024, honored him as the Best CEO in the IT Services (Emerging Companies) category. He was named a Tech Titan at Business Today India’s Best CEOs Awards in 2025 and was previously recognized by the publication in 2023 with the Best CEO in IT/ITES Industry award. As a testament to his transformative leadership, Persistent was named the "Most Promising Company" of the Year by CNBC-TV18 at the 2023 India Business Leader Awards.
During the past five years, Sandeep’s strategic direction has led to significant recognitions from renowned industry analysts such as Gartner, ISG, Zinnov, Everest Group and Constellation Research, as he has fortified the Company’s capabilities across industry verticals and service lines. Complementing these industry acclaims, Persistent is included in three prestigious capital market indices − MSCI India Index, S&P BSE 100 and S&P BSE SENSEX Next 50 Indices – reflecting investor confidence in the Company’s trajectory with Sandeep at the helm.
Sandeep is a graduate of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and was recently conferred with the Institute’s Distinguished Alumnus Award for his outstanding contributions to the field of business leadership. He spent more than 16 years at HCL, holding various leadership positions including overseeing outsourced Product Engineering, expanding HCL Technologies' presence in Latin America and Canada as well as leading the Pharmaceuticals vertical. After leaving HCL Technologies, Sandeep joined Symphony Teleca, where he was instrumental in its growth and successful acquisition by HARMAN. Subsequently, he led the 7,000+ member services business unit for HARMAN (now a Samsung company), providing digital transformation solutions to technology firms and enterprises.
Sandeep is a part of the prestigious CNBC CEO Council and a Founders Circle member of Indiaspora, a global network of influential Indian-origin leaders. These affiliations reflect his standing as a thought leader and his active engagement in shaping dialogues around business, innovation, and global impact.
Sandeep loves hiking, watching gymnastics and American football, and traveling to meet new people and learn about other cultures. He lives in Pennsylvania along with his wife, Jyotika, and their three daughters.
