CitiusTech has elevated Dhaval Shah to Acting CEO and Shyam Karunakaran to President, positioning the firm for its next phase of growth and AI‑driven transformation in healthcare. The change reflects a planned succession and confidence in the leadership team’s ability to scale AI solutions.

  • Dhaval Shah appointed Acting CEO
  • Shyam Karunakaran named President
  • CEO Rajan Kohli to depart by end‑August 2026

CitiusTech, a leading digital and enterprise AI provider for healthcare and life‑sciences organizations, announced on August 17, 2026 that Dhaval Shah, currently Chief Business Officer for MedTech and Life Sciences, will serve as Acting Chief Executive Officer effective immediately. Shyam Karunakaran, the Chief Business Officer for Healthcare Payer & Platforms, has been promoted to President, overseeing enterprise strategy, market expansion, growth, and execution.

The appointments are part of a pre‑planned succession strategy that underscores the board’s confidence in the firm’s leadership depth. CitiusTech delivered strong FY26 results, placing it in the top quartile of technology services firms, and expects continued momentum into FY27 driven by rising demand for AI‑centric healthcare solutions.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that CitiusTech’s leadership reshuffle underscores the firm’s strategic emphasis on AI‑driven healthcare transformation, positioning it to capture a larger share of the rapidly expanding global health‑tech market.

"Dhaval and Shyam now lead more than 80% of our business; their deep client insight and proven scaling track record position CitiusTech for its next growth phase," said Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr., Chairman, CitiusTech.

Dhaval Shah has been with CitiusTech for over 19 years, shaping its culture, values, and operating model from the early days. Shyam Karunakaran, a 17‑year veteran, built the payer and platform franchises into major revenue drivers. Together, they bring over 36 years of combined experience, ready to accelerate AI adoption across the healthcare ecosystem.

Did You Know?: In 2024, CitiusTech defined three AI layers—Engineering, Intelligence, and Agentic—that now serve as industry benchmarks for health‑tech solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is Rajan Kohli stepping down?
A: He plans to pursue other opportunities and will exit the CEO role by the end of August 2026.

Q: When will the new leadership begin executing its strategy?
A: The board expects major AI‑driven initiatives to roll out within the next fiscal quarter.