Lucknow,

06 May (HS): As Agentic AI rapidly transitions from pilot projects to

real-world execution, a significant shift is underway in how enterprises define

value, strategy, and governance. At the center of this transformation is the

evolving role of Chief Financial Officers, who are increasingly shaping

business outcomes in the age of AI. According to Deepak Kedia, CFO of Mastek,

finance leaders are no longer limited to oversight functions. Instead, they are

playing a pivotal role in guiding AI-led transformation across Global

Capability Centers and enterprise ecosystems.

Speaking

on how companies are navigating an increasingly competitive IT services

landscape, Kedia noted, “Our differentiation lies in combining deep domain

expertise with an AI-first execution approach. We are not approaching AI as a

standalone layer but embedding it into core business processes to drive

outcomes. This is reflected in the scale of adoption, with over 85 AI-assisted

deals closed in FY26. In addition, our strategy pivot towards being

vertical-focused and account-focused is leading to positive momentum as seen in

double growth of healthcare and financial systems vertical with our largest

vertical remaining stable YOY.”

Looking

ahead, Kedia emphasized strong growth fundamentals and a clear roadmap.

“We

are entering FY27 with stronger fundamentals, including improved pipeline

quality, better revenue visibility, and strengthened leadership depth. With a

24.4% (INR) increase in order backlog, we are confident about future growth.

Our focus will be on AI-led vertical and domain solutions across geographies

while maintaining stable margin by implementing AI-led efficiencies internally

to mitigate pricing and macro-economic headwinds faced by the industry.”

On

translating AI investments into tangible outcomes, he highlighted the

importance of foundational capabilities. “One of the most significant shifts we

are seeing across clients is the modernization of legacy systems using newer,

more efficient solutions that are faster and more cost-effective to implement.

While clients are adopting platforms integrated with AI, including agentic AI,

these investments deliver real value only when supported by critical service

layers such as data readiness, modernization, and the identification of

relevant AI use cases. Mastek has invested in these capabilities to ensure AI

adoption translates into tangible business outcomes for clients.”

Kedia

also pointed to the growing influence of AI in deal pipelines. “AI and data are

now integral to most large transformation deals in our pipeline, rather than

being standalone components. This shift is evident in the growing share of

AI-led deal closures over the past year. More importantly, we are seeing a

clear improvement in pipeline quality, with clients prioritizing outcome-driven

programs. This gives us greater confidence in both deal conversion and

long-term engagement value.”

Highlighting

developments in the public sector, he noted a move toward integrated digital ecosystems.

“The public sector is evolving towards more integrated, citizen-centric digital

ecosystems. In the UK, this is particularly evident, where our business grew

21.8% in FY26, with healthcare seeing particularly strong momentum. Governments

are increasingly investing in unified platforms that enable better data

utilization and service delivery at scale. We are now engaged in more strategic

programs, including building the UK’s first AI Centre of Excellence for a

global financial services provider and supporting digital health initiatives of

national importance. Our role has expanded from system implementation to

AI-enabled transformation.”

On

opportunities in digital public infrastructure, Kedia said, “Digital public

infrastructure is central to how governments deliver services at scale. We are

seeing increasing demand for unified, data-driven platforms that ensure

accessibility and enable real-time decision-making across healthcare, financial

systems, and citizen services. Our work with national health systems and large

public programs reflects this transition towards more connected and intelligent

ecosystems. These opportunities are long-term in nature and closely aligned

with our core strengths in complex digital transformation.”

Finally,

addressing workforce trends, he acknowledged a shift in talent demand.

“There

is a clear shift towards specialized skills in AI, data, and cloud, driven by

the nature of current transformation programs. At the same time, we are equally

focused on upskilling our existing workforce to align with evolving client

needs. The emphasis is on building a balanced talent model that combines deep

expertise with scalability. This approach ensures that we sustain both

innovation and delivery agility.” As enterprises accelerate AI adoption, the

role of CFOs is clearly expanding beyond financial stewardship to strategic

leadership—marking a defining moment in the evolution of modern business.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi