Rackspace Technology Names Gajen Kandiah CEO to Drive AI-First Multicloud Strategy

Rackspace Technology Names Gajen Kandiah CEO to Drive AI-First Multicloud Strategy

Rackspace Technology has appointed Gajen Kandiah as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective September 3, 2025. He succeeds Amar Maletira, who will transition to Vice Chairman of the Board to maintain leadership continuity.

Kandiah brings significant experience in AI and cloud services from his previous roles at Hitachi and Cognizant. He will focus on advancing Rackspace’s AI-first multicloud approach, delivering innovative cloud management solutions across private, public, and sovereign cloud environments.

Leadership Transition and Strategic Focus

Amar Maletira led Rackspace as CEO since September 2022, guiding the company through a customer-centric transformation. His move to Vice Chairman ensures a smooth handover while supporting Kandiah’s new leadership.

Under Kandiah, Rackspace aims to accelerate innovation around cloud management platforms and private AI capabilities. Strengthening partnerships with major cloud providers and improving operational consistency across sales and delivery are also top priorities.

What This Means for Rackspace

• Strategic AI Focus: Kandiah’s appointment signals a clear push towards embedding AI into multicloud solutions, which may enhance service offerings and operational efficiency.
• Leadership Stability: Maintaining Maletira as Vice Chairman supports continuity during this leadership change.
• Customer Outcomes: The company will prioritize measurable results for clients, including those in regulated industries.

However, leadership changes can introduce uncertainties for employees and stakeholders. The success of this transition depends on effective execution, and the focus on AI-first strategy may require adjustments from existing customers.

About Gajen Kandiah

Kandiah’s background spans services, infrastructure, software, and AI. He served as President and COO of Hitachi Digital, integrating AI across enterprise portfolios, and led Hitachi Vantara as CEO. His 16 years at Cognizant saw him contribute to scaling the business from $368 million to over $16 billion in revenue.

Board Perspective

Jeffrey Benjamin, Chairman of Rackspace’s Board, highlighted Kandiah’s operational expertise and alignment with the company’s goals to deliver secure, governed multicloud solutions with enhanced reliability and security.

Kandiah commented, “I am honored to lead Rackspace Technology and its exceptional team. Our focus is on enabling customers to deploy AI workloads effectively across cloud environments while simplifying management and protection.”

Quick Facts

• New CEO: Gajen Kandiah, effective September 3, 2025
• Outgoing CEO: Amar Maletira, now Vice Chairman
• Business Model: End-to-end hybrid multicloud services and AI solutions
• Maletira’s Tenure: September 2022 – September 2025

About Rackspace Technology

Rackspace Technology offers hybrid multicloud technology services and AI solutions, managing cloud environments across all major platforms. The company partners with clients throughout their cloud adoption journey, supporting application modernization, new product development, and the adoption of innovative technologies.

For executives interested in how AI is shaping cloud strategies, exploring relevant AI courses can provide valuable insights into the evolving landscape.