Chief Digital Officer

The Chief Digital & AI Officer will define and implement the AI and digital strategy for the thermal generation businesses at Adani. The role calls for a visionary strategic orientation, the ability to drive change, execute for results, and lead cross-functional data and engineering teams.The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial, strategic and analytically driven leader with deep expertise in AI, Machine Learning, Generative AI and data architectures — and with genuine knowledge of thermal power operations. The mandate is simple: use AI and digital to improve plant availability, lower heat rate and auxiliary power consumption, tighten the fuel chain and make plants safer, ushering in an AI-first operating model across the fleet.Education & CertificationBachelor's or Master's degree in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering or Business Administration.Certifications in AI/ML (Deep Learning, MLOps), Digital Transformation or Cloud AI architectures (Azure/AWS/GCP) will be a strong advantage.Engineering background (Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation or Power) is preferred given the plant environment.18–22 years of experience overall, with 6–8 years in a senior digital, AI or technology leadership role.Roles and ResponsibilitiesAI-Driven Strategy: define and implement a clearly defined AI and digital transformation agenda aligned with the generation business strategy, with leadership commitment, resource allocation and disciplined execution.Operationalising AI: design, deploy and run AI-enhanced processes — predictive maintenance, combustion and mill optimisation, computer vision, autonomous operations — to drive efficiency, profitability and growth, with ownership of business outcomes.Fuel and Asset Intelligence: digitise the coal and ash value chain end to end and deploy AI blending and reconciliation advisories that protect generation economics.Cultural Transformation: inculcate a culture that is AI-first, data-led, agile and attuned to algorithmic thinking — including at the plant floor, with shift engineers and unit heads.Thought Leadership & Governance: provide thought leadership to senior stakeholders on AI as a lever for growth, and establish robust AI governance, data privacy and ethical AI frameworks.Technology Advocacy: educate the business on emerging AI trends (GenAI, LLMs, Edge AI), opportunities, competitive threats and new algorithms that can differentiate operations.Modernisation & AI Infrastructure: make build-vs-buy decisions for AI models and data platforms; convert legacy plant and enterprise systems into AI-ready applications through integrated, scalable data architectures (data lakes, MLOps pipelines) spanning DCS, SCADA, historian, CBM and ERP data.Cyber Security of OT: ensure secure AI and data boundaries across plant control environments, with segmentation and access governance appropriate to critical national infrastructure.Portfolio & Partner Ecosystem: manage the AI/digital portfolio with shared accountability for value creation and ROI; grow internal capability and manage an ecosystem of AI vendors, OEMs, hyperscalers and start-ups.Talent Development: build a world-class team of data scientists, ML engineers and digital experts, supported by digital champions at each station.Stakeholder Management: influence and align the CEO, CFO, plant heads, regulators and partners to ensure timely delivery of AI solutions.Sector Knowledge (Mandatory)Hands-on experience in thermal power generation — with a utility/IPP, or in a senior role with an OEM, EPC or consulting firm serving thermal generators.Working knowledge of the thermal value chain: coal handling, milling, boiler and turbine operation, condenser and cooling, ash handling, FGD and grid evacuation.Comfort with generation metrics — heat rate, PLF/PAF, auxiliary power consumption, declared capacity, forced-outage rate — and the levers behind each.Practical exposure to DCS, SCADA, historians and condition-monitoring systems in multi-OEM plant environments.Familiarity with CEA, CERC/SERC, Grid-India scheduling and MoEFCC emission norms.Behavioural SkillsVisionary strategic orientation with a strong AI-first mindset.Change management and AI adoption expertise.Executive maturity, ethical AI advocacy and an analytical point of view.Entrepreneurial spirit and resilience.Collaborative, driven, and capable of demystifying complex AI concepts for business leaders.Technical SkillsDeep experience in defining an AI vision and data roadmap for large-scale businesses.Track record of working with CEOs and management teams to shape business requirements for algorithmic automation and digitalisation.Proficiency with ML algorithms, Generative AI applications, MLOps and familiarity with Python, R or equivalent.Experience setting up secure, enterprise-grade AI boundaries, data sovereignty controls and modern cloud/edge infrastructure.Ability to continuously scout for new AI breakthroughs, edge computing capabilities and emerging enterprise technology.Experience applying AI to industrial data — anomaly detection, remaining-useful-life, soft sensors and process optimisation — in live plant environments.