AI Is No Longer Optional – It’s a CFO Mandate; Top Finance Leaders Speak at FICCI CFO Summit 2026 Hosted by FICCI in collaboration with VJIM

Chief Guest Sri. D. Sridhar Babu, Minister of IT, Industries and Commerce, Government of Telangana addresses 150 CFOs on responsible AI practices and cybersecurity
Keynote addresses by Aruna Singh, CFO, Microsoft India and Vivek Chhabra, Head of Finance, Google India bring insights on AI driven financial innovation

Mumbai / Hyderabad, 7 March 2026: The FICCI CFO Summit 2026, hosted by the FICCI CFO Council in collaboration with Vignana Jyothi Institute of Management (VJIM) and Simandhar Education, concluded successfully today in Hyderabad, bringing together more than 150 CFOs, finance leaders, policymakers, regulators and academic leaders for a day-long dialogue on how artificial intelligence is transforming finance leadership, governance and enterprise strategy.

Held at the VJIM campus, the summit marked a significant continuation of FICCI’s national dialogue on the evolving role of the Chief Financial Officer, following the widely acclaimed flagship edition in Mumbai. The summit witnessed participation from leaders representing global corporations including Microsoft India, Google India, Bajaj Finserv, Bayer (South Asia), Cisco, Livspace, TVS Group, Adobe, McKinsey & Company and PwC, along with representatives from regulatory institutions such as SEBI and RBI and leading advisory firms, who shared insights on how finance functions are transitioning from traditional stewardship to data-led strategy.

The event was graced by Sri. D. Sridhar Babu, Minister of IT, Industries and Commerce, Government of Telangana as the Chief Guest. Addressing an august gathering of CFOs and young students, he said, “Hyderabad has built one of the most dynamic financial ecosystems in the country, attracting global institutions and talent. However, as financial systems become more technology-driven, the challenges for CFOs are also evolving from ‘Chief Finance Officers’ to ‘Chief Future Officers’, placing greater emphasis on innovation, governance and responsible AI practices. Sophisticated AI tools are increasingly being used in financial frauds and cyber breaches, placing a greater onus on finance leaders to strengthen data governance, cybersecurity and risk management frameworks.”

Mr. Rajneesh Jain, President & CFO of Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd, Chair, FICCI CFO Council added, “The Hyderabad edition of the FICCI CFO Summit brought together leaders from industry, policy and academia to discuss the future of finance leadership in an AI-driven world. As strategic decisions increasingly flow through finance, the modern CFO is expected to play a broader leadership role in shaping how AI is adopted. While AI will drive efficiency and insight, it must never replace ethical judgment.”

Prof. (Dr.) Bharat Bhushan Singh, Director, VJIM, said, “As the finance function evolves into a strategic nerve centre for organizations, it is essential that management education stays closely aligned with industry transformation. Summits of this scale allow us to provide a platform for our students and faculty to engage directly with leaders shaping the future of enterprise decision-making.”

As part of the keynote address, Aruna Singh, CFO, Microsoft India and Vivek Chhabra, Head of Finance, Google India highlighted the inevitable adoption of AI in finance. Aruna Singh, Microsoft India spoke about the world entering an era of widely accessible intelligence. She noted that the opportunity for finance leaders lies in harnessing AI to drive meaningful business outcomes while ensuring trust and responsible adoption. She further emphasised that while AI is reshaping productivity, innovation and customer engagement, it must remain a tool that augments human judgment rather than replacing it.

Vivek Chhabra, Google India, highlighted that adopting AI is no longer optional but a necessity, organisations that delay adoption risk falling behind the pace of innovation and evolving compliance demands. He noted that AI adoption, particularly in sectors like banking, can drive efficiencies of 15–20% across operations and compliance processes. Emphasising that AI in finance is already a present-day reality, he added that advanced technologies are enabling faster operations, improved fraud detection and stronger risk management across financial institutions.

Through a series of high-powered panel discussions, the summit explored practical use cases of AI across financial planning and analysis (FP&A), treasury management, governance frameworks, compliance systems and risk architecture, areas witnessing rapid transformation as enterprises adopt automation, predictive analytics and intelligent finance platforms. The summit concluded with a dynamic Open House session, which brought together finance heads from Accenture, Deloitte, Electronic Arts, Hero Enterprise, Invesco, IGT Solutions and Rebel Foods. Designed as an interactive exchange rather than a traditional panel, the session enabled candid discussions between industry leaders and academia on the future expectations from finance professionals and the evolving capabilities required in an AI-enabled business environment.

The Summit understated VJIM’s role as a leading industry-academia bridge, providing an opportunity for students and faculty to engage directly with some of the most influential finance leaders shaping India’s corporate landscape. The summit created a vibrant platform for knowledge exchange, leadership dialogue and strategic collaboration at a time when finance leadership is undergoing profound transformation.