Finalists Announced in Persistent’s AI Waymakers Awards at the 2026 Stevie® Awards for Technology Excellence

Persistent and the Stevie Awards recognize leaders advancing AI, cloud, data, and software engineering innovation

Finalists in five categories sponsored by Persistent, a leading global technology company, have been announced in the 2026 Stevie® Awards for Technology Excellence. Persistent’s AI Waymakers Awards recognize technology leaders whose work is helping shape the future of AI, cloud and data, software engineering, and business transformation.

The Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence are an international competition recognizing outstanding achievements across the technology industry. Through its sponsorship, Persistent shines a spotlight on the individuals driving technological innovation and helping organizations translate emerging technologies into business impact.

The Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award placements among the finalists will be revealed during the awards ceremony on October 28, 2026, in Paris, France.

Meet the Finalists in Persistent’s AI Waymakers Awards

The finalists in the five categories sponsored by Persistent are:

AI Automation Leader of the Year

• Tom Birnie, Transformation Director, BT Business
• Prem Lakshminarayanan, Director, Global Identity & Access Management Operations, Ahold Delhaize
• Raj Jampa, CTO, Myriad Genetics

AI Strategy Vanguard Award

• Alice Guehennec, CIO, Sodexo
• Vikash Singh, Director of Engineering, IAM, Ahold Delhaize
• Nayaki Nayyar, CEO, Siteimprove
• Andrew Henderson, CTO, OneAdvanced

Cloud and Data Visionary of the Year

• Graham McMillan, CTO, Redgate
• Pankaj Mistry, CIO & CISO, Enlivio Health
• Antonio Abisaad, Group Chief Data Officer, Sodexo
• Maria Garcia de la Hera, Chief Data Officer, Atradius

Software Engineering Trailblazer of the Year

• Keshav Santi, Group VP Identity Access Management Products, Ahold Delhaize
• Michael Carlberg Lax, Head of Engineering and MD Sweden, Infovista
• Jon Hayman, VP, Engineering Manager, Redgate

Trusted AI Transformation Advisor

• Brian Farrelly, Director - GM Ireland, Peru Consulting
• Marcus Luebcke, Strategic IT & Digital Sourcing, Inverto, a BCG Company
• Melanie Humphries, CEO, Horizon Seven Consulting Ltd
• Ant Drake, Partner and President, EMEA, Information Services Group

Celebrating the People Shaping the Future of Technology

Persistent’s sponsorship of the AI Waymakers Awards reflects the importance of recognizing the people behind technological progress. From advancing AI strategy and automation to building cloud and data capabilities and leading software engineering initiatives, these finalists represent a range of expertise helping organizations navigate an increasingly technology-driven world.

Winners to Be Revealed in Paris

The technology community will learn which finalists earn Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award placements at the October 28 ceremony in Paris. The event will bring together honorees from several Stevie Awards programs to celebrate achievements in business, technology, and the workplace.

Congratulations to all the finalists in Persistent’s AI Waymakers Awards. Their recognition highlights the talent, vision, and leadership driving innovation across today’s technology landscape.

Learn more: Explore Persistent’s AI Waymakers Awards finalists.