California Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed two Indian Americans, Subbarao Mupparaju and Yogesh “Yogi” Chugh, to significant positions within the state government.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has made notable appointments, elevating Subbarao Mupparaju to the position of Director of the Financial Information System for California (FI$Cal) and naming Yogesh “Yogi” Chugh to the Structural Pest Control Board.
Mupparaju has been serving as the Chief Deputy Director of FI$Cal since January 2023. His extensive experience in California’s government includes roles as Chief Information Officer (CIO) at both the Department of Housing and Community Development and FI$Cal, where he played a crucial role in the successful completion of the FI$Cal project and the transition of technology operations to the state.
Beginning his civil service career as the State Chief Enterprise Architect, Mupparaju was responsible for directing statewide enterprise architecture, digital transformation, and technology initiatives at the California Department of Technology, where he served for over three years.
Before his tenure with the state, Mupparaju accumulated 20 years of experience in various business and technology executive roles at prominent companies such as Hewlett Packard (HP), International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), and Tata Consultancy Services. During this time, he led the implementation and operations of several large-scale information technology systems, including the California Driver License System, California Child Welfare Services Case Management System, and the Missouri Automated Child Support System.
Mupparaju holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. He is also a certified Project Management Professional and an IBM Information Technology Specialist. His leadership has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including California CIO of the Year, the IBM Hundred Percent Club, and the HP Most Valuable People award.
Chugh, a businessman from Fremont, has been appointed to the Structural Pest Control Board. He has served as the Executive Managing Director of S5 Advisory since 2013. His previous experience includes two significant roles at PlayStation, Sony Computer Entertainment Media Inc., from 1996 to 2012. He worked as Senior Leadership Customer Relationship Management Technologies from 2001 to 2012 and held the position of Consumer Services Leadership Management from 1996 to 2001.
Prior to his time at PlayStation, Chugh was a Business Services Manager at Boston Consulting Group from 1993 to 1996. He is an active member of the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs and the Foundation for India and Diaspora Studies.
Chugh earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from California State University, San Jose, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Sciences from Delhi University.
These appointments highlight the contributions of Indian Americans in California’s public service and reflect the state’s commitment to diversity in leadership roles, according to The American Bazaar.