LEADERSHIP TEAM
VIMANA was founded and is led by the industry’s most brilliant minds in predictive data analytics.
With backgrounds in technology, manufacturing, and data, they live and breathe industrial analytics and truly enjoy helping implement best-in-class solutions for our customers and ecosystem partners.
Dr. Athulan Vijayaraghavan
Chairman & Founder
Athulan Vijayaraghavan founded VIMANA in 2009 with a vision to help manufacturers unlock new levels of profitability and flexibility by harnessing real-time data to drive smarter, faster decision-making. A pioneer in Industrial IoT, Athulan was an early contributor to the development of the MTConnect industrial data standard and went on to launch VIMANA, the industry’s first cloud-based smart manufacturing analytics platform—now delivering operational intelligence to factories around the globe.
With over a decade of startup leadership and product innovation, Athulan has played a key role in shaping VIMANA’s culture and technology. As former CTO, he led the design and delivery of cutting-edge solutions, fostering a collaborative and innovation-driven environment. Under his leadership, cross-functional teams embraced advanced cloud technologies, machine learning, and AI to deliver high-quality products and meaningful customer outcomes through continuous engagement and co-innovation.
Now as Chairman, Athulan continues to guide VIMANA’s strategic vision, championing innovation, global partnerships, and industry leadership to shape the future of smart manufacturing.
Syam Sunder
Chief Executive Officer
Syam Sunder is a visionary technology and business leader with nearly three decades of experience driving transformation and delivering excellence across the global engineering and manufacturing industries. As CEO, he is focused on scaling innovative solutions in Industrial IoT, Analytics, and Manufacturing AI to deliver long-term value and industry impact.
Throughout his career, Syam has demonstrated a strong ability to build high-performing, results-driven teams and lead organizations through significant growth. His expertise spans strategic planning, business development, and operational leadership, with a consistent track record of achieving business and profit growth.
He is known for expanding market presence through long-term relationship building, engaging effectively at all levels, and leveraging his deep skills in communication, analysis, foresight, and negotiation.
Prior to his current role, Syam led global smart manufacturing strategy at Hexagon and held senior leadership roles in technology, sales, and strategy at MSC Software and Hexagon Production Software. He has also guided enterprise solutions, product development, and go-to-market strategies across Industry 4.0, engineering, and smart manufacturing domains.
Hariprasad Sukumaran (Hari)
President & Chief Operating Officer
Hari brings over 20 years of diverse industry experience, with a strong focus on operations, customer success, and digital transformation. Since joining VIMANA in 2010, he has played a pivotal role in the company’s growth, leading the deployment of smart manufacturing solutions that leverage real-time data to deliver measurable improvements in operational performance for clients worldwide.
As President and COO, Hari oversees VIMANA’s global operations—managing secure infrastructure, application software delivery, and customer engagement to ensure world-class product reliability, scalability, and performance. He is known for his collaborative, inclusive leadership style and deep commitment to driving customer value.
Before stepping into his current executive role, Hari served as VIMANA’s Director of Field Services. His team demonstrated proven success in delivering complex global application deployments with speed and precision. From connecting brownfield and greenfield assets to enabling rapid implementation of VIMANA’s out-of-the-box analytics, Hari’s team partnered closely with clients throughout their digital journey—customizing visualizations, consulting on use cases, and ensuring sustained success.
With over 15 years of hands-on experience in delivering Industrial IoT solutions, Hari has collaborated with customers and partners to define, measure, and optimize manufacturing processes using lean methodologies and predictive analytics. His expertise in change management, data-driven decision-making, and accelerating technology adoption has enabled organizations to achieve both quick wins and long-term strategic outcomes.
Barry Kaplan
Chief Technology Officer & Chief Information Security Officer,
Barry Kaplan is a seasoned technology executive with over 30 years of experience in systems architecture, production operations, information security, and agile/DevSecOps methodologies. As the Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at VIMANA, a leading provider of industrial analytics software and services, Barry spearheads the development of scalable, secure, and innovative solutions that drive digital transformation in manufacturing and industrial operations.
Throughout his career, Barry has led cross-functional teams in deploying and managing mission-critical systems across diverse sectors, including industrial IoT, financial services, telecommunications, satellite communications, and enterprise business systems. His hands-on leadership style and deep technical expertise have been instrumental in delivering robust and resilient technology infrastructures that support organizational growth and agility.
Barry’s strategic vision and commitment to excellence continue to position him as a pivotal figure in advancing technological innovation within complex and dynamic environments.
