Accenture’s Former CTO Joins Google Cloud to Drive AI and Public Sector Growth

Executive Leadership Shift

Google Cloud has appointed former Accenture chief technology officer Karthik Narain as its new chief product and business officer, according to an announcement from Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian. Sources indicate this strategic hire aims to accelerate the company’s artificial intelligence initiatives and public sector business development. Narain brings nearly 11 years of experience from Accenture, where he was instrumental in shaping the company’s technology vision and cloud strategy.

Executive Leadership Shift
Expanded Responsibilities
Proven Enterprise Expertise
Strategic Timing
Industry Impact
Career Trajectory

Expanded Responsibilities

Reports state that Narain will lead multiple critical divisions within Google Cloud, including product and engineering teams across cloud services, developer tools, data management, and applied artificial intelligence. Analysts suggest he will also oversee the go-to-market organization and collaborate closely with Google Public Sector, indicating the company’s increased focus on government and institutional clients. The appointment comes as Google Cloud seeks to strengthen its position against competitors Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services.

Proven Enterprise Expertise

Kurian emphasized Narain’s qualifications in his statement, noting that “Karthik’s proven track record with clients, along with his unparalleled depth of experience in developing enterprise technology solutions will accelerate our customers’ journey into the AI era.” Industry observers suggest Narain’s background leading Accenture’s Cloud-First and Data & AI businesses positions him well to drive Google Cloud’s enterprise offerings. His experience spans cloud infrastructure, data security, industry platforms, and developer tools, according to the company’s announcement.

Strategic Timing

The leadership change occurs during what Narain described as “a generational moment of transition” driven by artificial intelligence innovation. This move coincides with Google Cloud’s record second-quarter 2025 revenue of $13.6 billion, representing 32 percent year-over-year growth. The company reportedly maintains a $54 billion annual run rate, though these figures will be updated when Google announces third-quarter earnings next week. Market analysts suggest Narain’s appointment signals Google’s intensified focus on enterprise AI solutions and public sector contracts.

Industry Impact

During his tenure at Accenture, which ranks No. 1 on CRN’s 2025 Solution Provider 500 list, Narain led major cloud and AI transformation projects for global enterprises across multiple industries. His philosophy, as expressed in his statement, emphasizes that “enterprise products must be designed to meet customers exactly where they are—integrating seamlessly into their existing systems and operating landscapes.” This customer-centric approach reportedly aligns with Google Cloud’s strategy to capture greater market share in the competitive cloud computing landscape.

Career Trajectory

Prior to his decade-long career at Accenture, Narain held executive positions at HCLTech from 2005 to 2015 and previously served as a financial services manager at Infosys. Industry sources indicate this diverse background across major technology consultancies provides him with unique insights into enterprise digital transformation challenges. In his new role, Narain stated he aims to “help advance Google Cloud’s market-leading AI innovation with a truly client-centric roadmap to unlock massive value for organizations globally.”