George Thomas Fanthome, the chief information offi cer (CIO) at Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL), is the driving force behind the innovation and growth of one of India’s busiest airports. With an impressive and diverse career spanning over 34 years, Fanthome is a recipient of various prestigious accolades and awards.

As the CIO of BIAL, Fanthome’s primary responsibilities and objectives encompass assembling and inspiring the right team, crafting IT and digital strategies, eff ective implementation within set timelines and budgets thereby ensuring ICT’s operations tability, managing risk prudently, and fostering a culture of digital and IT innovation. These facets serve as a compass guiding him in contributing to the strategic direction and success of technology initiatives.

In an era dominated by data, BIAL places a signifi cant emphasis on data-driven decision-making, a core component of the organisation’s ethos. Fanthome has initiated the establishment of a comprehensive data structure in the form of a data lake that integrates all the systems at BIAL, providing a unifi ed and holistic view of their operations. Under his guidance, they have employed advanced data visualisation and analytic tools to extract valuable insights from the wealth of data at their disposal, led by a dedicated team of experts at their Analytics Center of Excellence (COE). Fanthome fosters a culture of data literacy within the organisation through training and upskilling programmes, enabling the team members to access, interpret, and apply data-driven insights eff ectively, and gain profi ciency in tools like Power BI and others.

Fanthome has been instrumental in implementing several strategies to nurture innovation and ensure seamless communication viz The Innovation Lab, which collaborates with startups and industry specialists, and The Ideation Portal, which empowers team members from diverse backgrounds to contribute innovative ideas. An emphasis on cross-functional collaborations ensures that innovative ideas translate into impactful projects. By pioneering technologies like biometrics, computer vision, metaport, and SDN, Fanthome ensures that BIAL remains at the forefront of technological innovation, enhancing operational effi ciency and passenger experiences. Of the many technologydriven initiatives led by Fanthome, a notable example is the DigiYatra: Biometric Technology initiative that off ers an end-to-end seamless and secure airport experience that has revolutionised the passenger experience at BIAL.

Fanthome attributes his success to three guiding principles: Knowing the business, relentless execution, and building the best team. In his words, “Success is not a destination but a journey, and these principles serve as a reliable compass to navigate that journey eff ectively.”