Thales Appoints Ankur Kanaglekar as Vice-President India
Thales, a leading French technology and defense company, has named Ankur Kanaglekar as its Vice President for India, with the appointment taking effect on September 10, 2025.
In this position, Kanaglekar will be responsible for managing Thales' strategic direction and business operations throughout India, with particular emphasis on expanding industrial partnerships, strengthening local innovation and engineering competencies, and providing cutting-edge solutions within the defense, aerospace, and cyber-digital sectors.
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Kanaglekar contributes more than 25 years of professional experience in the aerospace and defense sectors as well as consulting, offering extensive knowledge in promoting strategic expansion, building collaborative relationships, and managing critical projects.
Prior to his appointment at Thales, Ankur Kanaglekar worked at Boeing India for 14 years, holding the position of Executive Director in his final role. During his tenure, he managed global collaborative development and production programs for defense systems, directed major sales operations, and influenced numerous strategic expansion projects. His expertise in establishing partnerships with both public and private Indian organizations, while supporting the Make in India program, has played a crucial role in promoting defense sector localization.
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Previously, serving as an Engagement Manager at PRTM Management Consulting, which is now integrated into PwC, he provided strategic guidance to Fortune 500 companies regarding mergers, acquisitions, operational improvements, and market entry strategies across aerospace, automotive, and industrial markets.
“I am pleased to welcome Ankur Kanaglekar to Thales. With his proven leadership and deep understanding of the Indian market, we aim to further enhance our support of the country’s ambitious self-reliance objectives, co-develop cutting-edge solutions, and nurture local talent".
"We remain deeply committed to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision and to fostering enduring partnerships across the ecosystem,” says Pascale Sourisse, President & CEO,Thales International.
"India is at the heart of Thales’ global strategy, and I am truly honoured to have this opportunity to lead our operations at such a pivotal time. I look forward to working closely with our partners, teams, and other stakeholders to accelerate growth, deepen localization, and make a meaningful contribution to nation building, supporting India’s technological ambitions and self-reliance journey," says Kanaglekar.
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He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Pune University, a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati, USA, and a Master of Business Administration from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.