Leadership Team

Our Experts

Leadership

Strength Behind Innovis

Olli Oittinen

Chairman
Olli Oittinen, one of the stalwarts of the global telecom industry, had been involved in the Indian Telecom revolution during the mid-90s as the first General Manager for Nokia Networks India.

An M.Sc in Engineering, Olli has been associated with Nokia Networks and subsequently Nokia Siemens networks in various leadership roles for more than 16 years (till May 2009). Olli has professional experience in global sales management, business management, and developing both processes and organizational capabilities. He is also experienced in growing businesses organically and in making acquisitions, as well as restructuring. Olli held an instrumental role in the successful merger of Nokia Networks and Siemens Comms.

Apart from his role in the post merger integration, Olli set up and led the global solutions sales organisation of NSN. Before that Olli held various leadership roles with Nokia Networks (Senior VP Western Europe, Senior VP Broadband Systems, VP Core Marketing & Sales, VP Radio Access Systems Marketing & Sales, General Manager Nokia Cellular Systems). He is passionate about leading people.

Olli is based in Helsinki.

Kapil Sharma

Managing Director (Co- Founder)

Kapil Sharma, an MBA from Indian Institute of Management (Calcutta) and an engineer from Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology (Patiala), has been associated with Indian Telecom Industry since the early days of privatization of telecom sector in mid 90s.

Most of Kapil’s career has been in managing the services business of Nokia Networks and NSN in various geographies like India, China, Asia Pacific, Latin America and North America. In his last role with NSN, Kapil was responsible for handling Bharti Business, one of the largest single accounts globally. He is proud of having successfully negotiated one of the largest ever telecom contracts worth approx. USD 1bn and the largest ever (at that time) NGN deal. He brings with him valuable experience of running complex Managed Services Business.

Kapil is the Managing Director of Innovis and is based in Dubai.

S.K. Acharya

Board Member (Co-founder)

S.K. Acharya is a well respected name in Indian telecom Industry. An engineer in Electronics Communications from UCE Sambalpur, SK brings a tremendous amount of execution experience in diverse markets like India, Taiwan, Japan and Korea.

Before taking the entrepreneurial plunge, SK handled a variety of business leadership roles with Nokia Networks / NSN, Qualcomm and Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL). His last role with NSN was as the Head of Country Services organisation where he handled an annual business of USD 600m, an organisation of more than 6000 people, annual roll-out of more than 40,000 BTS sites and managed services for an installed base close to 100,000 sites.

Apart from his execution skills, SK has in-depth technical knowledge of telecom products due to his long R&D experience in BEL.

SK, based in Gurgaon, led the operations of Innovis till October 2020 and currently remains involved with Innovis’ strategy as an active board member.

Claus karthe

Board Member

Claus Karthe is an MBA from IMD Switzerland and has a career spanning nearly 30 years in telecommunications with proven business management achievements in multinational companies both on the supplier and operator side.

Claus is energized by building up new businesses and solving complex problems where his solid engineering and business administration degrees as well as his consulting and coaching skills come handy.

As an entrepreneur, Claus possesses proven business startup skills which brought him his wide industrial (Mobile Content, Telecommunication Networks, Maritime Communications) and geographical (USA, Central Europe, Middle East, South East Asia, Australia and Japan) experience.

Claus is a founding shareholder of several IT/telecom companies in the mobile content, content management, IT & telecom services field and BPO operations. He was a member of the business board of Nokia Asia Pacific until the year 2002. Lately, Claus gained strong operational experience as CTO/COO of a wireless carrier in the maritime GSM sector.

Claus is based in Singapore.

Gopal Garg

Chief Financial Officer

Gopal is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary with over 22 years of experience across Indian and international business environments.  

He has held key roles in both Indian enterprises and multinational corporations, bringing deep expertise in fundraising, mergers and acquisitions, financial planning and analysis under IFRS, as well as budgeting, forecasting, risk management, taxation, treasury operations, and compliance with secretarial and statutory requirements.

He has successfully led ERP implementations, process automation initiatives, and major cost control and savings programs. His extensive experience also includes developing and monitoring key business metrics to support growth and enhance profitability.

Known for his forward-thinking approach, Gopal consistently delivers financial plans aligned with organisational strategy, adapting them to reflect evolving market trends and dynamic business conditions.

Sanjay Sehgal

CEO - Africa

Accomplished business leader with over 25 years of experience driving growth, operational excellence, and strategic transformation across telecom, logistics, banking, health-tech, and skill development sectors. 

Proven expertise in P&L management, large-scale operations, business strategy, and technology-enabled transformation.

Currently serving as CEO Africa Region at Innovis Telecom Services, leading network infrastructure, managed services, and advisory operations across Africa. Adept at building high-performance teams, scaling businesses, launching new products, and establishing robust processes in both MNCs and start-up environments.

MBA in Marketing and a Bachelor’s in Economics, combining strategic vision with hands-on execution to deliver sustainable business growth and operational efficiency.

Preety Mehra

Head - HR

Preety Mehra is an accomplished HR leader with an MBA in Human Resources and over 16+ years of experience in Talent Acquisition, Leadership Hiring, and HR Business Partnering across Telecom, IT, Retail, Pharma, and Manufacturing sectors.

She has successfully led global recruitment and HR operations, driving strategic workforce planning, talent acquisition initiatives, and employee engagement programs across India, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Her expertise spans technology and non-technology hiring, talent strategy development, performance management, and organizational development.

As a trusted HR Business Partner, Preety collaborates closely with business leaders to align people strategies with organizational goals, strengthen culture, and enhance talent retention. She is recognized for her data-driven approach, innovative HR solutions, and commitment to building high-performing, engaged teams. 

Vipin Bhatia

Group Operations Head

Seasoned Telecom Operations Leader with over 25 years of experience in Managed Services, Network Rollouts, and Project Management across India and international markets. 

Currently serving as Global Head of Operations at Innovis Telecom, overseeing managed services for Nawras Telecom (Ooredoo Group), ensuring SLA/KPI compliance, network performance, and vendor management.

Proven expertise in LTE/4G/3G network deployments, core network transformations, DWDM & metro core networks, and turnkey projects with Huawei, Nokia Siemens Networks, and Ericsson. Strong skills in service delivery, people and vendor management, risk mitigation, and business continuity planning.

ITIL® V3 certified, with a BE in Electronics & Communication, combining deep technical knowledge with strategic leadership to drive operational excellence, team engagement, and business growth.

Prince Sood

Head of Global Sales and Business Development

Prince Sood joined Innovis Holdings PTE Limited in 2017 and currently serves as the Head of Global Sales & Business Development, responsible for leading the company’s commercial strategy and driving business growth across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa.

He oversees the implementation of group sales policies, ensures alignment with organizational objectives, and steers Innovis toward achieving its financial and strategic goals.

With over 15 years of international experience in the telecommunications and technology sectors, Prince has built a proven track record in expanding market presence, developing long-term partnerships, and managing multi-million-dollar contracts with leading global operators and infrastructure providers. His leadership combines strategic vision with hands-on execution, ensuring operational excellence and customer satisfaction across all business regions.

Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and an MBA in Finance from Liverpool John Moores University, UK, Prince is widely recognized for his strategic acumen, professionalism, and commitment to innovation. Passionate about the integration of Artificial Intelligence in network operations, he continues to drive Innovis’s mission to deliver smarter, more efficient, and future-ready telecom solutions worldwide.

Elisha Wabwile

Business Development Manager
- East Africa

With over 14 years of diverse experience, currently serving as Business Development Manager – East Africa, I bring a strong blend of project management and operations expertise.

Known as an all-rounder, He has developed a versatile skill set across the telecom industry and renewable energy/ESCO sector. Adept at driving business growth, managing projects end-to-end, and delivering operational excellence, he combines strategic insight with hands-on execution to achieve measurable results.

Makarious orwa

EHS head

Makarious is a management professional in the field of Occupational Health, Safety, and Operations. With over 15 years of experience, Makarious has a deep understanding of relevant regulations and standards.

His track record includes successful implementation of Safety, Health, ISO standards, ESG /Sustainability and Operations programs to mitigate risk, ensure compliance, and enhance productivity.

Makarious holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce, NEBOSH International General Certification in Occupational Safety & Health, Eco Vadis Practitioners badge and a Diploma in Business Management. His expertise extends to training individuals in OSH, First Aid, and Fire Safety, as well as mentoring teams and managers. With a decade of experience in the medical health sector followed by a transition to the engineering field with a specialization in Telecommunication and Constructions, Makarious has a wealth of knowledge in people management and fostering a safety culture across different diversities. Currently heading EHS/ESG in Africa working with resources in Kenya. Zambia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Uganda and all our subsidiaries.

Donald owili

Project Head - East Africa

With over 18 years of experience in the telecom industry, he possesses a wealth of knowledge in project management, network deployment, and team leadership. his expertise spans GSM, 2G, 3G, LTE, and 5G technologies, with a proven track record of delivering projects on time and within budget.

With extensive experience in telecom operations, he has successfully managed multiple projects from inception to completion, ensuring adherence to timelines, quality standards, and customer satisfaction. His expertise spans network deployment and integration across a range of telecom technologies, including GSM, 2G, 3G, LTE, and 5G. He also possesses strong technical knowledge in microwave transmission, fiber optics, and network architecture, enabling efficient planning and execution of complex projects.

Over the years, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills by guiding and motivating teams to deliver high-quality results while maintaining strict safety and operational standards. His track record includes successfully managing and delivering projects for leading telecom operators such as Safaricom, Airtel, and Korea Telecom. Additionally, he has developed and implemented robust project management methodologies that ensure timely delivery, quality assurance, and overall project excellence.

Sushant Ambardar

Operations Head - Zambia , Kenya , Rwanda and Madagascar

Seasoned Telecom Operations Leader with over 20 years of experience in network operations, transmission engineering, and managed services.

Currently serving as Regional Operation Director at Innovis Telecom Services Pvt. Ltd., leading telecom operations in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Madagascar, Zambia ensuring high-quality service delivery, operational efficiency, and process optimization.

Proven expertise in network planning, O&M management, quality assurance, and project execution, with prior experience at Ericsson India, Huawei, Idea Cellular, and Tata Teleservices. Holds a BE in Electronics & Telecommunication, combining technical proficiency with strong leadership and operational management skills to drive performance and successful telecom deployments.

Pradeep Dugtal

Operations Head - Ethiopia and KSA

Graduated (B. Tech.) in Electronics Engineering from HBTI Kanpur in the year 2000, one of the prestigious institute of India.  

Highly seasoned and results oriented Telecom professional with nearly 25 years of comprehensive Experience in Telecom sector.

Expertise on driving operational excellence in Managed services and large scale deployment services. A proven record of successful engagement and handle critical network across 2G/3G/4G/5G technology and grown as Engineer, Operation/Project Manager, Operation Director with global telecom giants including Airtel, Ericsson, Nokia, Huawei in various telecom circles in India, Myanmar and South East Asia. Key assignment as lead role was ‘Airtel-Mumbai turnaround’ as Operation Manager, Successful setup and manage services of ‘Greenfield network of Ooredoo Mynamar’ as Operation Manager and Operation Director in Nokia.

Core competency includes People management, greenfield network setup, Manage services, vendor & customer relationship, service delivery optimization, technical leadership in telecom initiatives and leading cross functional teams in the complex environment.

Dileep Kumar

Operations Head - Uganda

Dileep Kumar is a telecom operations specialist with 20+ years of experience in managing Active and Passive networks across multiple international markets.

Since 2005, he has built strong expertise in RAN, Core, Transmission, power systems, tower operations, and large-scale O&M frameworks. Known for his hands-on leadership and operational discipline, Dileep has played a key role at Innovis since 2014, driving service excellence, improving uptime, and leading high-performing teams across Africa and Asia. He is recognised for his reliability, technical depth, and commitment to delivering consistent operational results.

Hasnain Baluch

Country Manager - U.A.E

Seasoned telecom and business operations leader with over 15 years of experience driving growth, efficiency, and client success across the Middle East and South Asia.

Skilled in strategic management, project execution, and commercial negotiations within the telecommunications industry.

Currently serving as Country Manager at Innovis UAE, leading national operations, business expansion, and financial performance in the UAE. Proven track record in securing major contracts, optimizing operations, and strengthening compliance and risk frameworks.

Previously worked as Senior Key Account Manager, delivering a 25% revenue increase through strategic sales initiatives, strong client partnerships, and high-value bid management.

Earlier experience at Huawei Technologies as Bid Manager, where led multimillion-dollar proposals, managed cross-functional bidding teams, and supported key telecom infrastructure projects across Pakistan and the Middle East.

Animesh Kumar

Country Manager - Indonesia

Animesh is a strategic business leader known for driving delivery excellence, operational transformation, and customer success across the telecom and power sectors.

As Country Manager – Indonesia at Innovis, he leads overall business operations, P&L management, and growth initiatives in the Indonesian market.

He is skilled in establishing and scaling delivery organisations, building high-performing teams, and creating robust governance and PMO frameworks. Prior to joining Innovis, he held senior leadership roles with global organisations such as Nokia, Ericsson, and ABB, where he led complex, multi-geography delivery programs.

Animesh combines strategic vision with hands-on execution to deliver measurable business impact and sustained organisational growth.

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