NEXT 100 - FUTURE IT LEADERS OF INDIA

IT NEXT IDENTIFIES THE FUTURE IT LEADERS OF INDIA

IT NEXT magazine announces the successful completion of Indias first talent hunt for future CIOs. Titled the NEXT 100, the five-month long program selected 100 outstanding IT Managers, from a pool of 72,000, who have the skills and qualities to make it to the top technology job in an enterprise.

The future will be increasingly driven by strong IT systems and technologies. It is important that we have visionary IT leadership to enable Indian enterprises to compete effectively in a globalized environment, said Vikas Gupta, publisher of IT Next magazine, This is why we launched the NEXT100 talent hunt.

The Next100 awards process commenced on June 21, 2010, with a call for self-nominations to 72,000 IT managers around the country. Over 1,600 aspirants registered for the award, and over 300 applicants successfully completed the subsequent stages of the awards process the leadership skills and technical strategy assessment exercises. Each completed application was independently assessed by three representatives from a 38-member jury comprising of Indias leading CIOs. Independent recommendations from referees were also obtained for each candidate before finalizing the list of Next100 award winners.

The NEXT 100 program has been enthusiastically supported and endorsed by the Indian CIO community. Some of the comments that we received are:

1. NEXT100 is a very good idea to encourage second line of CIOs. I will be happy to associate myself with this endeavorU. C. Dubey, Executive Director ( IT ), Iffco-Tokio General Insurance Co Ltd
2. NEXT100 is a good opportunity that you have created for the professional community. Congratulations! ... Rajeev Jorapur, Head - IT, Mercedes-Benz India
3. I think that NEXT100 is an excellent initiative. I would encourage Senior IT Managers to acquire the skills and traits and experience necessary for becoming CIOs. I am ready to extend whatever support you need from me Vinay Mehta, CIO, Escorts Construction Equipment Ltd
4. NEXT100 is a good initiative... Ajay Dhir, CIO, Jindal Steel

The Next100 awards will be presented to the winners at a gala event on November 26, 2010 at the Ramoji Rao Film City, Hyderabad.

The Next100 awards are supported by some of Indias leading IT equipment and service providers: Tata Communications, APC by Schnieder Electric and Juniper Networks. The other partners include Digilink, Alcatel-Lucent, Kingston Technologies, Cyberoram, Canon India, Quest Software, Checkpoint and Kaseya.

IT Next is a brand of 9.9 Media, one of Indias most diversified media companies that integrates its print, online, research and event platforms to serve highly-targeted communities such as Owners & CEOs of hi-growth enterprises, CIOs, CTOs, CSOs, CFOs, Manufacturing & Logistics professionals, IT professionals, Channel partners, Gamers, Personal technology enthusiasts, Senior government officials, and Leaders of higher education institutions. Some of its other leading brands include The CTO Forum, Digit, Industry 2.0, Logistics 2.0, Digit Channel Connect, SKOAR!, CFO India, EDU, >consumermate.com and the latest addition, Inc. India. The 9.9 School of Convergence is focused on developing talent in journalism. 9.9 Media was founded by five professionals: Kanak Ghosh, Asheesh Gupta, Vikas Gupta, Anuradha Das Mathur and Pramath Raj Sinha. Its investors include Helion Venture Partners and TVS Capital Funds Ltd.

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