Persistent appoints Hari Abhyankar to lead private equity

Persistent has appointed Hari S. Abhyankar as Executive Vice President and Global Head of Private Equity and Professional Services, expanding its leadership focus on clients in private equity and advisory markets.

He will lead global strategy and growth across private equity investors, their portfolio companies and professional services organisations, working with clients on revenue growth, platform modernisation and operational efficiency across investment portfolios.

The appointment comes as technology suppliers seek a larger role in private equity-owned businesses, where investors are under pressure to shorten value-creation timelines and improve returns. That has created an opportunity for service providers to pitch transformation work ranging from early diligence to post-deal operational changes.

Persistent is increasing its focus on this market by bringing together its engineering, artificial intelligence and platform-based delivery model. The aim is to support investors and portfolio companies through different stages of ownership, including assessment, execution and value realisation.

Sector focus

Private equity firms have become a more important source of work for technology and consulting groups as dealmakers seek faster operational improvements in acquired businesses. That has increased demand for advisers and service partners that can support software changes, process redesign, margin improvement and commercial growth.

Professional services firms are also under pressure to adapt as clients expect a clearer link between technology spending and business outcomes. Against that backdrop, Persistent is positioning this leadership hire around a segment where strategic advice and implementation often sit closely together.

Abhyankar brings more than 25 years of experience across strategy, technology and business transformation. He was previously a Partner at McKinsey & Company, advising technology companies and large enterprises on corporate strategy, transformation and revenue growth initiatives.

After McKinsey, he worked with AI-native start-ups on scaling technology-led innovation and operating models. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles at Interpublic Group and Digitas, where he built and led analytics, digital strategy and data-led marketing teams serving global technology and enterprise clients.

He also holds a PhD in Operations Management from the MIT Sloan School of Management, adding an academic dimension to a career shaped by consulting, technology and marketing services.

Leadership view

Sandeep Kalra, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Persistent, outlined the rationale for the appointment.

"Private equity is a strategic growth engine for Persistent. As investors push for faster value creation across their portfolios, the ability to move from strategy to execution at speed becomes critical. This is where Persistent stands apart. We combine engineering depth, AI-led platforms and execution discipline to deliver results that matter, from accelerating growth to improving operating margins and enabling exit readiness. Hari's experience strengthens our ability to deepen our engagement with private equity firms and drive sustained performance across their portfolios," said Sandeep Kalra, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Persistent.

The comments reflect a broader market trend: firms that once focused on software development or IT modernisation are now seeking deeper relationships with investors and portfolio management teams. In practice, that often means linking technical projects to measures such as earnings improvement, speed of integration and readiness for a sale or refinancing.

For Persistent, the hire also signals an effort to sharpen its industry-facing leadership structure around a customer group with distinct buying patterns. Private equity firms and their portfolio companies often seek quick assessments, targeted interventions and measurable operating gains, unlike the longer procurement cycles common in large enterprises.

Abhyankar said the environment facing investors is changing and requires a more integrated operating model between strategy and delivery.

"Private equity firms are operating in an environment where value creation needs to be faster, more predictable and more technology-driven than ever before. This requires a fundamentally different approach, one that integrates strategy with execution and scales results across the portfolio. Persistent's engineering-led DNA and focus on AI-driven transformation position it strongly to address this need. I look forward to working with our clients and partners to accelerate portfolio performance and deliver measurable business results," said Abhyankar.