Digitide replaces founding CEO with Alvarez & Marsal veteran to scale AI push
Sameer Ahluwalia, a former MD at Alvarez & Marsal, takes over from Gurmeet Chahal, the founder who led the Quess Corp demerger.
What's new
- Digitide appoints Sameer Ahluwalia as CEO and Executive Director, effective June 1, 2026.
- Ahluwalia is a former MD at Alvarez & Marsal and Group President at Firstsource; he also held roles at HCL Technologies.
- He succeeds Gurmeet Chahal, the founding CEO who guided the company through its demerger from Quess Corp.
Why this matters
For a micro-cap, the CEO is the strategy. Chahal's tenure was defined by separating from Quess and establishing the independent entity. Bringing in a transformation specialist from Alvarez & Marsal signals the next phase is about scaling and professionalising operations, not just surviving as a standalone company.
What we're watching
- Any change in guidance or reported strategy from Digitide under Ahluwalia.
- How the board and Chahal's role evolve post-transition.
- Early signs of how the new CEO's turnaround experience applies to Digitide's AI practice.
The full read
Digitide is swapping its founder for a turnaround specialist. Gurmeet Chahal, who led the company through its demerger from Quess Corp, is stepping aside as CEO. His successor, Sameer Ahluwalia, is a former MD at Alvarez & Marsal and Group President at Firstsource, with prior roles at HCL Technologies. The move is effective June 1, 2026. For a micro-cap with a ₹1,264 crore market capitalisation, this is a defining hire. Chahal built the independent entity; Ahluwalia is tasked with scaling it. Management frames the appointment around global expansion and AI-led transformation, which matches Ahluwalia's resume in running large-scale change projects across North America, Europe, and India. The signal is clear: Digitide is moving from founder-led survival to professionalised growth.
Questions answered
- Who is replacing the founding CEO at Digitide?
- Sameer Ahluwalia, a former Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal and Group President at Firstsource. He also held leadership roles at HCL Technologies and has over two decades of experience in transformation and P&L management across multiple geographies.
- Why is this leadership change significant for Digitide?
- It marks the departure of the founding CEO, Gurmeet Chahal, who led the company through its demerger from Quess Corp. For a micro-cap with a ₹1,264 crore market cap, this is a fundamental shift in who is steering the business.
- What is the strategic intent behind this appointment?
- Management stated the appointment is intended to accelerate the company's global expansion and its AI-led business transformation strategy. Ahluwalia's background in large-scale transformation projects aligns with that stated goal.
- When does the new CEO start?
- The appointment is effective June 1, 2026.