Persistent Systems, an information technology (IT) company, has announced the appointment of Rajiv Naithani as Chief People Officer, effective August 1, 2025, as part of a planned succession. He currently serves as Senior Vice President – HR & Organisational Development, where he is responsible for leading the company’s HR strategies and driving organisational growth.
Rajiv will take over from Yogesh Patgaonkar, the current Chief People Officer at Persistent, who is set to retire from the role effective July 31, 2025, the IT firm announced in its regulatory filing. In his new role, he will lead talent transformation efforts to support business scalability, leveraging AI-driven insights and people-first practices to build a high-performing, future-ready workforce.
Prior to joining Persistent Systems, Rajiv was the Chief People Officer at Infogain, where he played a key role in shaping the company’s HR strategy. His career includes leadership roles at renowned organizations like Dassault Systèmes, GlobalLogic, InterGlobe Technologies, and HCL Technologies, establishing him as a seasoned HR professional.
Rajiv brings deep expertise in people strategy, cultural integration, M&A management, high-performance culture building, leadership development, compensation & benefits, and overall HR maturity. During his tenure at Infogain, he played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s culture, leading to its recognition among the Top 100 technology companies in India by Great Place to Work in both 2022 and 2024. The organisation’s trust index saw a remarkable 25-point increase over four years, reflecting Rajiv’s strong impact on employee experience and organisational growth. Academically, he holds a Master’s degree in People and Organisational Development from the prestigious University of Sussex.
With over two decades of experience, Rajiv has a strong track record of leading organisational transformation through innovative people strategies. Having worked extensively in the high-tech industry, he is a firm advocate of the “Employee First” philosophy — believing that prioritising employee well-being is key to delivering outstanding customer experiences and long-term shareholder value.
