If digital initiatives do not deliver measurable business value, they should not exist: Sumit Duttagupta, Group CIO, Haldia Petrochemicals

For decades, petrochemical plants have been symbols of scale, precision and operational discipline. Yet in today’s hyper-digital world, even the most asset-heavy industries are being reshaped by data, automation and artificial intelligence. At Haldia Petrochemicals, one of India’s oldest and most complex petrochemical enterprises, this transformation has been both deliberate and deeply foundational.

According to Sumit Duttagupta, Group CIO of Haldia Petrochemicals, the role of technology leadership itself has fundamentally changed. “The CIO is no longer just managing IT systems,” he says. “The expectation today is to act as a catalyst for business growth, innovation and transformation.” Boards and senior leadership now view technology as a strategic lever, one that can redefine operating models, unlock efficiencies and even create new revenue pathways.

This shift, however, has not come without challenges. The velocity of technological change, from cloud and industrial IoT to AI, agentic systems and advanced ...