HCLTech has signed a seven-year agreement with The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian) that expands the companies’ existing partnership and includes the acquisition of Guardian India, the insurer’s global capability centre, with nearly 2,000 employees joining the Indian information technology services company.
The agreement will see HCLTech establish a dedicated Strategic Business Unit to support Guardian’s technology, engineering and operations. Karunakaran Azhisur, Country Head of Guardian India, will join HCLTech to lead the unit.
The companies said the partnership will focus on expanding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) across Guardian’s technology and operations, while supporting its businesses spanning group benefits, individual protection, retirement and wealth management.
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Focus on AI and operations
HCLTech said it will deploy its AI Service Transformation Platform, AI Force, to develop agentic AI capabilities and support Guardian’s product operating model. The company will also work on data, applications and engineering transformation, alongside operational changes aimed at reducing costs and speeding up product delivery.
The companies also plan to jointly develop AI-based solutions and intellectual property for the insurance sector.
Speaking on the agreement, Steve Rullo, Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Guardian, said the partnership was “an important step in advancing our operating model and scaling AI across our enterprise”. He added that the collaboration with HCLTech would help the company strengthen consistency and scalability while continuing to invest in capabilities that support customers, policyholders and distribution partners.
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Guardian India acquisition
As part of the expanded partnership, HCLTech will acquire Guardian India, which provides technology, operations and shared services support to the insurer. The employees joining HCLTech will form part of the new business unit dedicated to Guardian.
Commenting on the expanded partnership, Srinivasan Seshadri, Chief Growth Officer and Global Head of Financial Services at HCLTech, said the agreement reflected the companies’ focus on “scaling AI and modernising operations”. He said the addition of Guardian India’s workforce would enable the companies to co-develop products and intellectual property while strengthening HCLTech’s AI platforms and insurance expertise.
