Cognitute Consulting Unveils A New Chapter To Drive Expansion Across APAC And The Middle East

Cognitute Consulting has announced the appointment of Mrinali Jain as Chief Executive Officer and Co‑Founder, effective May 28, 2026, marking a strategic leadership shift as the firm targets accelerated expansion across APAC and the Middle East. The move follows an eight‑month rebuild in which the firm says it transformed from a restart “zero to one” into a profitable, growing organisation. Founder Ashok Deepan will step back from day‑to‑day operational responsibilities and core ownership to focus on an upcoming Agentic AI venture while retaining leadership of the firm’s sales and growth function.

"The last eight months have been extraordinary. We rebuilt this organization brick by brick and every milestone came through relentless effort, resilience, and ownership. Mrinali embodies everything Cognitute stands for. Handing her the CEO mandate is not a transition. It is the most important growth decision I have made for this organization. The road ahead will be bigger, faster, and more ambitious than anything we have done before," said Ashok Deepan, Founder, Cognitute Consulting.

Context and operational changes

Under the new structure, Mrinali Jain will hold the largest ownership stake in Cognitute and assume full strategic and operational leadership. Her stated immediate priorities are to deepen the firm’s presence across APAC and the Middle East, scale what the company describes as its "next generation consulting team," and accelerate an AI integration roadmap across all service lines.

• Appointment effective date: May 28, 2026.
• Rebuild timeline: eight months from restart to profitability and growth.
• Founder role change: Ashok Deepan will focus on building an Agentic AI venture and continue to lead sales and growth.
• Global footprint: studios in India, Singapore, Dubai, the UK, and the US.

"Cognitute was built on performance, ownership, and a vision greater than any single role or title. I carry that forward with full commitment. The opportunity in front of us across APAC and the Middle East is significant, and so is the responsibility. We will build this next chapter the same way the first was built. With rigor, with courage, and with a team that leads from the front," said Mrinali Jain, CEO and Co‑Founder, Cognitute Consulting.

Details of the firm's proposition and footprint

Cognitute positions itself as a global management consulting firm serving clients from seed‑stage startups to large corporates and says it uses a proprietary "Consulting 4.0" framework to deliver outcome‑driven engagements tied to tangible business metrics. The firm lists studios spanning India, Singapore, Dubai, the UK and the US, and highlights a strategic emphasis on human‑centric, data‑intelligence frameworks and accelerated AI adoption across service lines.

As part of the transition, Deepan will relinquish core ownership and day‑to‑day operational control to concentrate on the Agentic AI venture he is building. The company frames the change as a deliberate, founder‑led decision to empower a younger leadership cohort while preserving the founding philosophy and sales continuity.

Outlook

The leadership change is intended to position Cognitute for a scale‑up phase focused on international expansion and AI integration. With a stated strategy to deepen presence across APAC and the Middle East and to scale its consulting teams, the firm will seek to convert the momentum of its recent rebuild into sustained growth. Media enquiries are directed to Devika Jain; the company's website is listed as www.cognitute.org.