AI, data discipline and change management will define 2026: Vinay Kumar, CIO, MMG Group

As enterprises across industries brace for a new wave of digital disruption, Vinay Kumar, CIO of MMG Group (McDonald’s India – N&E, Coca-Cola FBO, Oil & Gas), believes that the year 2026 will be shaped by three powerful forces: the rise of AI driven innovation, a sharper focus on disciplined data governance, and the enduring challenge of effective change management. With the organisation exploring AI for demand forecasting, hyper personalisation and voice based automation across its QSR and beverages businesses, Kumar sees immense potential in intelligent systems that can enhance customer experience and operational efficiency. Yet he remains equally clear that technology alone cannot drive transformation. In an era marked by stringent data protection mandates and evolving expectations from consumers, he stresses the need for responsible data handling, clear access hierarchies and robust internal controls. At the same time, he points out that the human side of ...