Trailblazer of the Year: Apple India’s bold rise under Ashish Chowdhary

In a nation redefining its digital and economic identity, Apple India stands as a striking example of strategic evolution, led by a leader who has rewritten the rules of global engagement. Under the stewardship of Ashish Chowdhary, Managing Director of Apple India, the company has transformed from a niche premium brand to a cornerstone of India’s tech and manufacturing ecosystem.

The Voice&Data Telecom Leadership Awards jury has conferred the Special Jury Trailblazer of the Year 2025 Award on Apple India, acknowledging its extraordinary rise and socio-economic impact under Chowdhary’s leadership. This recognition is a testament not only to Apple's expansion but to a leader who foresaw India’s ascent in the global value chain—and made it central to Apple’s long-term strategy.

Chowdhary, a seasoned executive with a deep understanding of both emerging markets and global operations, brought a rare balance of vision and execution to Apple’s India playbook. His prior leadership at Nokia, where he successfully managed customer operations across high-growth economies, gave him the toolkit to drive results in complex, dynamic markets like India. At Apple, he has scaled that playbook to historic effect.

Between 2020 and 2023, Apple’s manufacturing operations in India underwent a silent but powerful shift. What began as a cautious diversification effort away from China quickly evolved into a foundational pillar of Apple’s supply chain strategy. Under Chowdhary, India now accounts for 5% of Apple’s global production, up from just 1% in 2020. In FY23, Apple exported devices worth nearly ₹40,000 crore, helping India make significant inroads in the global electronics export map.

This growth has been more than financial. It has created local employment, accelerated skilling initiatives, and injected momentum into the component and ancillary manufacturing ecosystem—elements that are vital to the long-term health of India’s tech infrastructure. Apple’s presence has also catalysed the entry of several global component suppliers into India, aligning with the national goal of self-reliance and deeper supply chain integration.

Ashish Chowdhary’s approach is marked by quiet confidence and strategic depth. He has cultivated strong partnerships with the Indian government, aligned Apple’s ambitions with national priorities such as Make in India and Digital India, and amplified the brand’s resonance with Indian consumers and institutions alike. While the global narrative often centres around Apple’s innovation and design excellence, in India, that narrative now includes manufacturing scale, local relevance, and ecosystem growth.

Chowdhary’s leadership has proven that Apple can be both a premium aspirational brand and a pragmatic force for industrial transformation. It’s a duality few have achieved in the Indian context. By embedding India more deeply into Apple’s global operational blueprint, he has demonstrated that the country can be more than just a consumer market—it can be a strategic driver of innovation, quality, and resilience.

In honouring Apple India as the Trailblazer of the Year, the jury salutes not just a company, but a visionary approach that marries ambition with action. As India marches towards becoming a global tech and manufacturing leader, executives like Ashish Chowdhary are showing the world how it’s done—quietly, confidently, and with an eye on the future.