Jio Platforms has appointed Pankaj Pawar as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) as the company prepares for its upcoming Initial Public Offering (IPO).

Pawar takes over from Kiran Thomas and has officially assumed the role of CEO. He will continue to serve as the Managing Director of Reliance Jio Infocomm, helping bring the company’s telecom and digital businesses closer together.

According to a LinkedIn post by Hiring Today Media, Pawar has more than 30 years of experience with the Reliance Group. He has played a major role in building Jio’s telecom network and improving its technology and digital infrastructure. His work has helped Reliance Jio become India’s largest telecom company.

The appointment comes at an important time as Jio Platforms continues to expand its business in artificial intelligence (AI), cloud services, enterprise technology and other digital offerings. The leadership change is also expected to support the company’s IPO plans.

Under Pawar’s leadership, Jio Platforms is expected to focus on innovation, improving its digital services and growing its technology business in India and beyond.