Cognizant promotes Rob Walker to President of Global Growth Markets
International technology consultancy Cognizant has appointed Rob Walker to lead its Global Growth Markets organisation and become a member of Cognizant’s Executive Committee.
Walker arrived at Cognizant in early 2021, joining as Managing Director of UK & Ireland. In the role, he leads all aspects of Cognizant’s operations in the market, including strategic planning, commercial development and client delivery.
Ahead of his promotion, Brian Humphries, Chief Executive Officer at Cognizant, said Walker “has been doing an exceptional job driving top-line growth in the UK.”
Under Walker’s leadership, Cognizant’s UK & Ireland business has managed to grow by 17% – faster than the firm’s global average of 11%.
Walker’s performance in the region – Cognizant’s second largest country after the US, which accounts for one-third of its international business – has proven he is well positioned to propel the firm’s global growth efforts.
While North America remains the world’s largest technology consulting market, according to Humphries over half of Cognizant’s market opportunity for high-growth digital services now “lies outside North America.”
“Globalising Cognizant is one of our four strategic initiatives aimed at accelerating growth in the years ahead,” Humphries added. “I am confident Rob will help us meaningfully accelerate growth in Global Growth Markets in the years ahead.”
As he steps up to the new role, Walker will use this experience to drive profitable growth across Europe and Asia Pacific; accelerating investment in digital, investing in talent, and expanding Cognizant’s on and offshore delivery footprint to best serve our clients around the world.
“I am deeply honoured to have the opportunity to lead Global Growth Markets at such an exciting time in Cognizant’s journey. Driving international growth is a key strategic objective of the company, and I am confident we have the right team in place to accomplish that goal. We will continue to invest in our brand, our people and our digital portfolio to win in the market,” said Walker.
A previous EY Consulting Markets Lead for EY in the UK & Ireland, Walker brings 25 years of experience advising clients across a wide range of sectors and industries. With EY, this included FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 firms from the technology, media and telecommunications, advanced manufacturing and engineering, and consumer products sectors.
He was also responsible for the Big Four firm’s growth and go-to-market strategies.
Taking up the role immediately, Walker steps into the shoes of Ursula Morgenstern. A 30-year consulting industry veteran, Morgenstern is a former KPMG Partner, and ex-Head of Atos Central Europe, who had been with Cognizant since late 2020. She will be leaving Cognizant.
Cognizant is a business with over 315,000 employees globally. The firm helps clients modernise technology, reimagine processes and transform experiences so they can stay ahead in our fast-changing world.