Global Finalists

Tyler Best is Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Tenneco, where he leads the company’s global IT strategy, digital transformation, smart manufacturing initiatives, data management, and cybersecurity programs. Prior to Tenneco, he served in senior technology leadership roles at Adient, Hertz Global Holdings, and Cerberus Capital Management. Tyler holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Michigan State University and an MBA from the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Under my leadership, our team transformed culture, technology, and operations to better serve the business. We fostered a high-performance, accountability-driven mindset, streamlined complex technology environments, and modernized critical systems to improve efficiency, scalability, and resilience. We also accelerated the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies, including automation, AI-driven insights, and predictive capabilities that enhanced productivity, quality, and decision-making. By aligning people, processes, and technology around business outcomes, we delivered lasting enterprise value and helped position the organization for continued growth, innovation, and operational excellence.

Sujit Kulkarni is Senior Vice President of the NA IT Digital Center at DENSO, where he leads IT, digital transformation, data, AI and cybersecurity functions, and globally heads DENSO’s next-generation supply chain transformation. Before joining DENSO, he spent more than 25 years in global technology leadership at GE and ABB. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electronics engineering and an MBA from Michigan State University, and is a graduate of MIT’s Chief Digital Officer program.

We started by unifying several fragmented teams into a single IT Digital Center, the first in DENSO globally to bring IT, digital transformation, information security & factory IoT under one roof. We took the global lead in AI and other emerging technologies and consistently delivered more business value than we committed. That record built our credibility & led to one of our greatest accomplishments: DENSO chose our North America team to lead its next-generation global supply chain transformation, one of the largest programs in the company’s digital portfolio. It has turned us from a regional IT function into a global business enabler.

Ryan Olivier is the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Adient, a global leader in automotive seating. He is responsible for the company’s worldwide technology strategy, cybersecurity, digital transformation, infrastructure, and enterprise applications. With more than 30 years of leadership experience across manufacturing and automotive industries, Ryan is known for driving business value through technology innovation, operational excellence, talent development, and strong partnerships that enable growth, resilience, and customer success.

Adient IT has made significant progress transforming from a traditional technology organization into a strategic business partner. Strengthening alignment with business priorities, IT has accelerated delivery of solutions that improve operational efficiency, reduce risk, and create measurable business value. Key achievements include advancing ERP and cloud modernization, stabilizing managed services, enhancing cybersecurity, and implementing a structured approach to technology investments. Additionally, IT established enterprise AI governance, expanded Microsoft Copilot adoption, launched AI enablement programs, and advanced AI use cases across business functions, positioning Adient to improve productivity, automate work, and unlock future competitive advantages through AI innovation.

Sucheta Walimbe is Chief Technology Officer, Enterprise Platform Engineering and Operations, at Ford. She leads the secure, scalable, and future-ready technology platforms that power Ford Blue, Ford Pro, Ford Credit, and Lincoln. Known for enterprise modernization, AI-enabled transformation, and operational excellence, she has built a high-performing team innovates at scale. Sucheta leads with purpose, humility, and heart, investing in people, developing future leaders, and leveraging technology to create lasting business, customer, and community impact.

Bill Ford said: “Technology will be in the driver’s seat, steering the auto industry into the future.” I’m proud to have helped modernize the digital foundation that powers Ford’s iconic heritage and future. Our work transformed legacy systems into secure, resilient enterprise platforms that support Ford’s global business and advance the Ford+ plan. Just as importantly, we built an engineering powerhouse, enabling teams to move faster, innovate with confidence, and deliver trusted experiences at scale. Together, we are creating the digital foundation that will power Ford’s next century of innovation and growth.