Kothiyal leads applied AI across the firm and its portfolio

BOSTON: Astira Capital Partners (“Astira”), a Boston-based private equity firm that backs business and professional services businesses, today announced the appointment of Manoj Kothiyal as Partner, Head of AI. The appointment advances Astira’s strategy to integrate applied AI into portfolio company value creation, reflecting its conviction that the technology will reshape service delivery, quality and customer value across specialist services.

As Partner, Head of AI, Kothiyal’s role connects a changing investment landscape with the opportunity to reshape how specialist services are delivered. Working with portfolio company founders and management teams, he aims to develop capabilities that raise service quality, extend expertise and create enduring value for customers.

“We are at an inflection point for specialist services. Applied AI is changing what customers can expect, how expertise can be delivered and where enduring value will be created,” said Azra Kanji, Founder & Managing Partner of Astira. “This is a strategic shift for the sector we invest in. Manoj brings the experience to help us see its full potential and work with management teams to build companies that set a higher standard for their customers.”

Kothiyal brings experience leading AI and digital transformation across industries, and his expertise extends from shaping enterprise strategy to building AI products and changing how businesses operate. Before joining Astira, he served as Chief Business Officer & Global Head of AI at LTM, formerly LTIMindtree. Earlier, as a Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group, he worked across its Consumer and Operations practices and helped scale internal AI build capabilities at BCG X, including proprietary AI products such as SNOW AI.

“Applied AI presents the opportunity to rethink service delivery,” said Chris Ritchie, Partner at Astira. “The businesses that convey deep subject-matter expertise to customers with greater consistency, reach and responsiveness can deliver a fundamentally better experience. Across our portfolio, Manoj will work with management teams to pursue that opportunity, with a focus on delivering stronger service models, higher quality and durable growth.”

“Applied AI is opening a new era for specialist services, one in which a firm’s deepest expertise can be available in more of the moments that matter to customers,” said Kothiyal. “It gives professionals more room to exercise the judgment and build the relationships that set great companies apart. At Astira, I see an opportunity to help management teams make these capabilities central to their businesses and create lasting value for customers.”

The appointment builds on Astira’s applied AI resources across its investment and portfolio teams. The firm works with management to adapt those capabilities to each business, with the ambition to reshape service delivery and strengthen the value companies provide to customers over time.

About Astira Capital Partners

Astira Capital Partners is a Boston-based private equity firm that backs business and professional services businesses and partners with founders and management teams to support their next stage of growth. Astira pairs investment judgment with operating support to help portfolio companies build on their specialist expertise and capitalize on the latest developments in technology and applied AI. Learn more at astiracp.com.

Fonte: Business Wire