Key Takeaways
- • Astira Capital Partners, a Boston-based private equity firm backing business and professional services companies, has appointed Manoj Kothiyal as Partner, Head of AI to lead applied AI across the firm and its portfolio.
- • Kothiyal previously served as Chief Business Officer & Global Head of AI at LTM (formerly LTIMindtree) and held Managing Director and Partner roles at Boston Consulting Group, where he helped scale AI build capabilities at BCG X.
- • The appointment advances Astira's strategy to integrate applied AI into portfolio company value creation, with a stated focus on service quality, delivery and customer value across specialist services.
- • Founder & Managing Partner Azra Kanji described applied AI as a strategic shift for the specialist services sector Astira invests in.
Summary
Astira Capital Partners, a Boston-based private equity firm that backs business and professional services businesses, announced the appointment of Manoj Kothiyal as Partner, Head of AI, according to a Business Wire release. In the role, Kothiyal will lead applied AI across the firm and its portfolio companies. The appointment is presented as part of Astira's strategy to integrate applied AI into portfolio company value creation, reflecting the firm's view that the technology will reshape service delivery, quality and customer value across specialist services.
Kothiyal will work with portfolio company founders and management teams to develop capabilities intended to raise service quality, extend expertise and create durable value for customers. Founder & Managing Partner Azra Kanji said the sector is at an inflection point, stating that applied AI is changing customer expectations, how expertise is delivered and where enduring value will be created. Partner Chris Ritchie said businesses that convey deep subject-matter expertise to customers with greater consistency, reach and responsiveness can deliver a markedly better experience.
Before joining Astira, Kothiyal served as Chief Business Officer & Global Head of AI at LTM, formerly LTIMindtree. Earlier, he was a Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group, where he worked across its Consumer and Operations practices and helped scale internal AI build capabilities at BCG X, including proprietary products such as SNOW AI. The release describes his expertise as spanning enterprise strategy and the development of AI products.
The appointment builds on Astira's existing applied AI resources across its investment and portfolio teams, with the firm adapting those capabilities to each portfolio business. Kothiyal framed the opportunity as allowing professionals more room to apply judgment and build the relationships that differentiate companies. The release does not disclose financial terms of the appointment or specific portfolio initiatives.
Kothiyal will work with portfolio company founders and management teams to develop capabilities intended to raise service quality, extend expertise and create durable value for customers. Founder & Managing Partner Azra Kanji said the sector is at an inflection point, stating that applied AI is changing customer expectations, how expertise is delivered and where enduring value will be created. Partner Chris Ritchie said businesses that convey deep subject-matter expertise to customers with greater consistency, reach and responsiveness can deliver a markedly better experience.
Before joining Astira, Kothiyal served as Chief Business Officer & Global Head of AI at LTM, formerly LTIMindtree. Earlier, he was a Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group, where he worked across its Consumer and Operations practices and helped scale internal AI build capabilities at BCG X, including proprietary products such as SNOW AI. The release describes his expertise as spanning enterprise strategy and the development of AI products.
The appointment builds on Astira's existing applied AI resources across its investment and portfolio teams, with the firm adapting those capabilities to each portfolio business. Kothiyal framed the opportunity as allowing professionals more room to apply judgment and build the relationships that differentiate companies. The release does not disclose financial terms of the appointment or specific portfolio initiatives.
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