Cognizant Sees Senior-level Exit As CMO Gaurav Chand Resigns

Global IT services company Cognizant’s Chief Marketing Officer Gaurav Chand has resigned. His departure marks another significant change in the company’s leadership as it navigates a series of senior-level exits. 

Chand had joined Cognizant in August 2019 and previously held positions at Ranbaxy, Dell Technologies and CenturyLink.

In light of Chand’s exit, Thea Hayden, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing and a veteran with 25 years of experience in the field, has been appointed as the interim Chief Marketing Officer. 

“We thank Gaurav Chand for his leadership since 2019, during which he oversaw all aspects of Cognizant’s global marketing. Senior Vice President of Global Marketing Thea Hayden, a 25-year marketing veteran and seasoned Cognizant executive, will serve as our interim Chief Marketing Officer while a global search for a permanent CMO is conducted. Her deep expertise and leadership will ensure a seamless transition and adeptly steer our marketing efforts forward,” Cognizant said in a statement.

The company has initiated a global search for Chand’s permanent successor, engaging executive search firms to identify suitable candidates.