| 09:00 - 09:30 Hrs |
Registration and Welcome Reception |
| 09:30 - 09:45 Hrs |
Welcome Announcements
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| 10:00 - 10:10 Hrs |
| Opening Plenary on the Star Nite Awards by |
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Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu, Editor-in-chief, VARINDIA |
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| 10:10 - 10:20 Hrs |
Lamp lighting ceremony
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| 10:20 - 10:35 Hrs |
| Mr. Puneet Chadha, CMO- Redington Ltd. |
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Puneet Chadha, CMO of Redington Ltd., brings over two decades of expertise in marketing and branding across IT and non-IT sectors. Previously, he held leadership roles at PVR Cinemas, HP India, Tata Elxsi, and Gomark, driving impactful campaigns with major brands. At Redington, he focuses on global strategy, innovation, and leveraging AI and big data for customer engagement and growth.
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| 10:35 - 10:50 Hrs |
| Welcome Address by Mr. Devesh Ku. Rastogi, President- FAIITA |
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Mr. Devesh Ku. Rastogi is the President of the Federation of All India IT Associations (FAIITA). He leads initiatives aimed at uniting and empowering IT trade associations across India, fostering collaboration, and addressing industry challenges. Under his leadership, FAIITA works to promote the growth and development of the IT ecosystem while advocating for the interests of its members. |
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| 10:50 - 11:20 Hrs |
| Keynote by Mr. Sunil J Singhi, Chairman- National Traders Welfare Board- Govt. of India |
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Mr. Sunil J. Singhi serves as the Chairman of the National Traders Welfare Board, Government of India. He plays a pivotal role in addressing the concerns and welfare of traders across the country, driving initiatives to support and enhance their business environment. His leadership focuses on formulating policies that promote growth and resolve challenges faced by the trading community.
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| 11:20 - 11:40 |
| Mr. Mathew Philip- Sr. Director & Head India business and Global SI’s- GoTo |
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Mathew Philip, Senior Director & Head of India Business and Global SIs at GoTo, has over 25 years of experience in business development, strategic alliances, and leadership. He leads GoTo's GSI Business, fostering strategic partnerships with global system integrators and technology players.
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| 11:40 - 11:45 Hrs |
Award Felicitation to the IT Association |
| 11:45 - 12:00 Hrs |
Refreshment Break |
Session - II
12:00 - 13:00 Hrs |
Channel Empowerment Session with Microsoft & Ingram Micro
| Mr. Nischay Kandpal, Sr. Manager- Digital Adoption- Beyondsoft
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Nischay Kandpal is a Senior Program Manager for Digital Adoption in APAC, with over 18 years of experience in technology implementation across enterprise and education sectors. He has trained over 100K professionals, including educators, doctors, and business partners. His expertise includes optimizing business processes through commercial tech, EdTech, intelligent-edge, and intelligent cloud solutions. Nischay has represented India in various global forums, including IIT Bombay, UNESCO MGIEP, and BETT events. He is currently leading digital adoption for AI in industries across Asia Pacific.
Presentation by Microsoft
Panel Discussion Session and Q & A Session
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| 13:00 - 14:00 Hrs |
Networking Lunch Break |
| Session- III |
VAR Symposium |
| 14:00 - 16:00 Hrs |
Breakout Session- 30 IT Associations to join the session from across the country |
| 14:00 - 14:15 Hrs |
| Mr. Rohit Sharma, Head Technical Sales- India/SAARC- Micron Technology |
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Rohit Sharma is a seasoned technology leader at Micron Technology, heading the technical sales team for the India and SAARC regions. With a deep understanding of semiconductor technology and a passion for innovation, Rohit is instrumental in driving Micron's business growth and customer success. He specializes in providing cutting-edge solutions to meet the evolving needs of the market, from data centers to mobile devices. Rohit's expertise and leadership have been crucial in establishing Micron as a leading provider of memory and storage solutions in the region.
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| 14:15 - 14:30 Hrs |
| Mr. Michael Dyson, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, APAC- SOTI Inc. |
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Michael Dyson, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, APAC- SOTI Inc. With over 20 years of experience, Michael specializes in developing and implementing mobility solutions for mission-critical applications across sectors like Health & Government, Field Service, Retail, and Logistics. He excels in addressing challenges in harsh and remote environments by deploying and supporting purpose-fit technology solutions. |
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| 14:30 - 14:45 Hrs |
| Mr. Jithesh Chembil, Head Channels India- Pure Storage |
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Jithesh Chembil is the Head of Channels for India at Pure Storage. He leads the company’s channel strategy, fostering strong partnerships and driving business growth through collaborative initiatives. With extensive experience in channel management, Jithesh plays a pivotal role in strengthening Pure Storage’s presence in the Indian market.
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| 14:45 - 15:00 Hrs |
| Mr. Venkata SR Datala, Channel sales Head (Indian & SAARC)- Versa Networks |
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Venkata SR Datala is the Channel Sales Head for India and SAARC at Versa Networks. He oversees the company’s channel strategy, driving growth through strategic partnerships and enabling partners to deliver cutting-edge networking and security solutions. With a strong background in sales and channel management, he plays a key role in expanding Versa Networks’ footprint in the region. |
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| Session- IV |
Panel Discussion- I: VARs in Indian IT Industry |
| 15:00 - 15:30 Hrs |
Moderated by: Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu, Editor-in-chief- VARINDIA
Mr. Vivek Gupta, President- Hitachi Systems India Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. Aditya Narain Kakkar, Director- Intensity Global Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. Amit Jain, Founder & CEO- Integrated Tec9labs Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. Puneet Thakkar, CEO & MD- Shivaami Cloud Services Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. Himanshu Chawla, Director, Co-Founder & Technology Evangelist- IRIS Waves Pvt. Ltd.
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| 15:30 - 15:45 Hrs |
| Mr. Yuvraj Pradhan, Director Solution Engineering (APAC & Japan)- Sonicwall
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Yuvraj Pradhan, Director of Solution Engineering, APAC & Japan at SonicWall, brings over 20 years of cybersecurity expertise across industries like government, IT, banking, and manufacturing. Previously, he held roles at McAfee, Intel Security, IBM, and Internet Security Systems.
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| 15:45 - 16:00 Hrs |
| Mr. Amarish Karnik- Director -Channel, Alliance & Cloud Service Provider (India & SAARC), Veeam Software |
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Amarish Karnik- Director -Channel, Alliance & Cloud Service Provider (India & SAARC)- Veeam Software. He leads the company’s efforts in building strategic alliances, expanding channel partnerships, and driving growth through cloud service providers. With extensive experience in channel and alliance management, Amarish plays a critical role in strengthening Veeam's presence and ecosystem in the region.
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Session- V
16:00 - 16:15 Hrs |
| Fire Side Chat Session with |
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Mr. Mandar Patil, Founding Member & SVP- Global Sales & Customer Success, Cyble Infosec |
| and |
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Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu, Editor-in-chief-VARINDIA |
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| 16:15 - 16:30 Hrs |
| Mr. Saivijay Appayya Khanagav, Channel Head, SMB- Lenovo ISG India
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Saivijay Appayya Khanagav is the Channel Head for SMB (Small and Medium Business) at Lenovo ISG India. He is responsible for driving Lenovo's channel strategy in the SMB segment, building strong partnerships, and expanding the company's reach in the Indian market. With expertise in channel management and business development, Saivijay plays a crucial role in growing Lenovo's presence within the SMB sector. |
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| 16:30 - 16:45 Hrs |
| Ms. Sonika K Rastogi, Manager Channel Account Management - Fortinet Technologies India |
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Ms. Sonika K Rastogi, Manager Channel Account Management - Fortinet Technologies India, excels in channel management and strategic alliances, driving partnerships and enhancing Fortinet’s presence in the Indian market with a focus on OT cybersecurity. Sonika has been associated with the IT Industry for over 18 years handling sales and partner management. |
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| 16:45 - 17:00 Hrs |
| Mr. Vivek Malhotra, Sr. Director & General Manager Channel Sales - Dell Technologies |
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Mr. Vivek Malhotra is the Senior Director and General Manager of Channel Sales at Dell Technologies. He is responsible for overseeing Dell's channel sales strategy, driving growth through partnerships, and expanding the company's market reach. With extensive experience in channel management, Vivek plays a key role in strengthening Dell Technologies' presence and building successful relationships with partners in the region. |
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| Session- VI |
Announcement of Eminent VARS of India (Awards Ceremony) |
| 17:00 - 17:30 Hrs |
100 VARs to get recognized in 17 different categories of awards |
| 17:30 - 17:45 Hrs |
| Mr. Chandra Sankholkar- Director- Google Cloud
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Mr. Chandra Sankholkar is the Director at Google Cloud. He plays a key role in driving the adoption and expansion of Google Cloud services across various industries. With a strong background in cloud computing and technology solutions, Chandra is responsible for leading strategic initiatives and building partnerships to help organizations harness the power of Google Cloud for digital transformation. |
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| 17:45 - 18:00 Hrs |
Recognizing Channel Chief In Indian IT Industry |
| Session- VII |
Evening Session |
| 18:15 - 18:25 Hrs |
Inaugural ceremony of 23rd Star Nite Awards |
| 18:25 - 18:30 Hrs |
| Ms. S Mohini Ratna, Editor- VARINDIA
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Ms. S. Mohini Ratna is the Editor of VARINDIA, a leading source of technology news and insights in India. With a deep understanding of the ICT industry, she plays a key role in shaping the editorial direction of the publication, focusing on delivering timely and impactful content to its audience. Mohini Ratna is dedicated to providing valuable insights on technology trends, business developments, and innovations in the sector.
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| 18:30 - 18:35 Hrs |
Lamp lighting ceremony |
| 18:35 - 18:50 Hrs |
| Mr. Uday Macaden, Head of Enterprise Channel Sales- Samsung India Electronics Pvt. Ltd |
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Mr. Uday Macaden, Head of Channel Partner Business at Samsung India’s Enterprise Division, has over 20 years of experience with global tech leaders like HP and AMD. He leads channel management with strategic foresight, strong stakeholder relationships, and effective go-to-market strategies. Managing over 700 partners, he drives revenue growth and enterprise success across product categories. |
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| 18:50 - 19:05 Hrs |
| Mr. Rajat Gossain, Head- Channel Business- SIFY
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Mr. Rajat Gossain is the Head of Channel Business at Sify Technologies. He is responsible for leading and driving the company's channel strategy, building and managing partner relationships, and expanding Sify's market presence. With a strong background in business development and channel management, Rajat plays a key role in enhancing Sify's growth and outreach through its extensive channel network. |
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| 19:05 - 19:20 Hrs |
| Dr. Arindam Sarkar, Asst. Professor & Head of Computer Science and Electronics- Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira-Howrah |
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Dr. Arindam Sarkar is an Assistant Professor and the Head of the Department of Computer Science and Electronics at Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira, Howrah. He is involved in teaching and guiding students in the fields of computer science and electronics, with a focus on advancing knowledge and research in these areas. Dr. Sarkar is dedicated to academic excellence and contributes to the development of students' skills in technology and engineering disciplines. |
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| 19:20 - 19:35 Hrs |
| Mr. Saket Modi, Co-Founder & CEO - Safe Security
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Mr. Saket Modi is the Co-Founder and CEO of Safe Security, a leading cybersecurity company. He is responsible for driving the company's vision and growth, with a focus on providing comprehensive cybersecurity solutions to protect businesses from digital threats. Saket Modi is an expert in cybersecurity and data protection, and under his leadership, Safe Security has become a key player in the cybersecurity space, offering risk management and real-time security solutions. |
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| 19:35 - 19:55 Hrs |
| Mr. Amit Kapoor, Business Manager- Hewlett Packard Enterprise |
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Amit Kapoor is a Business Manager at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), specializing in driving business growth and managing key client relationships. With extensive experience in the technology sector, he focuses on developing and implementing strategies that align with HPE's objectives. His role involves overseeing sales operations, coordinating with cross-functional teams, and ensuring the delivery of tailored solutions to meet client needs. Kapoor's expertise contributes significantly to HPE's market presence and customer satisfaction.
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| 19:55 - 20:15 Hrs |
| Keynote Address by Mr. Ajay Sawhney, Former Secretary-MeitY, Govt. of India.
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Mr. Ajay Sawhney is the former Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India. During his tenure, he played a key role in shaping the country's digital landscape, including driving initiatives related to digital infrastructure, e-governance, and technology policy. Mr. Sawhney is recognized for his contributions to promoting the use of technology in governance and for his work in fostering innovation and digital transformation in India. |
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| 20:15 - 20:20 Hrs |
Recognition of Life Time Achievement Award 2024 |
| 20:20 - 20:30 Hrs |
Recognition of CMO Of The Year 2024 |
| 20:30 - 20:55 Hrs |
23rd Star NIte Awards - Channel Leadership Survey Awards (CLS 2024) |
| 20:55 onwards |
Vote of Thanks by Ms. S Mohini Ratna, Editor- VARINDIA |
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