Guardian Appoints Karunakaran Azhisur as Country Head – India
Guardian India Operations Private Limited, the global capability centre (GCC) for The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, has officially named Karunakaran (Karun) Azhisur as its Country Head for India.
The announcement, made on January 21, 2026, marks a strategic leadership transition for the firm’s Chennai and Gurugram-based operations.
Karunakaran will succeed Shiney Prasad, who departed the organization in August 2025.
Dual Leadership and Strategic Transformation
In his new capacity, Karunakaran will report directly to Michael Prestileo, Chief Strategy Officer and Chair of the Guardian India Board.
Notably, Karunakaran will continue to serve as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for Guardian India.
In this dual role, he is tasked with partnering with Steve Rullo, Chief Digital & Technology Officer, to spearhead technology-led transformations.
His focus will remain on driving operational excellence and accelerating innovation for the parent company’s global policyholders.
Karunakaran Azhisur: A Legacy of Tech Expertise
Karunakaran brings over 20 years of experience in engineering and technology leadership. His professional background includes:
- AI-Driven Transformation: Recent work in building “agentic” AI capabilities and modernizing core technology platforms.
- Global Scaling: Proven track record of building high-performing software and data teams across the U.S. and India.
- Sector Depth: Extensive experience in Silicon Valley technology firms and global diversified enterprises.
“Karun’s strategic vision and disciplined execution will be instrumental as we advance our technology strategy,” stated Michael, emphasizing that Karunakaran’s ability to drive complex transformations makes him an ideal leader for the next phase of growth.
Guardian India’s Focus on Culture and Talent
Addressing his appointment, Karunakaran highlighted that his primary focus would be the intersection of technology and talent.
“Guardian India’s strength lies in its people and culture,” he noted.
He aims to create an environment that nurtures leadership and builds sustainable business outcomes through engineering excellence.
The Great Place to Work Institute has long recognized Guardian India for its workplace culture, awarding it several accolades over the years.
In 2025, it was specifically cited as one of the top 100 workplaces in India’s IT-BPM sector and a premier destination for women in the workforce.
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