HCLTech and The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America have signed an expanded seven-year agreement to accelerate AI-led modernization across Guardian’s technology and business operations. The partnership also includes HCLTech’s acquisition of Guardian India, the insurer’s global capability center, bringing nearly 2,000 employees into the technology company’s workforce.
HCLTech has strengthened its long-standing relationship with The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America through a new seven-year strategic agreement focused on advancing artificial intelligence across the insurer’s technology and operational landscape. The expanded collaboration aims to support Guardian’s long-term modernization strategy while improving efficiency and accelerating digital transformation initiatives.
Under the agreement, HCLTech will help modernize Guardian’s technology ecosystem by expanding AI-driven capabilities across data, applications and engineering functions. The partnership also covers operational improvements spanning group benefits, individual protection, retirement and wealth management businesses, with the objective of streamlining processes, reducing costs and shortening the time required to introduce new services.
As part of the expanded arrangement, HCLTech will increase the deployment of its AI Service Transformation Platform, AI Force, to introduce agentic AI capabilities aligned with Guardian’s product operating model. The companies said the initiative is intended to create a more scalable technology foundation while supporting wider adoption of artificial intelligence across the organization.
The agreement also includes HCLTech’s acquisition of Guardian India, the insurer’s global capability center in India, for $10.5 million in an all-cash transaction. Nearly 2,000 employees supporting technology, operations and shared services will transition to HCLTech, where they will become part of a dedicated Strategic Business Unit established exclusively to serve Guardian. Karunakaran Azhisur, currently Country Head of Guardian India, will lead the new business unit after joining HCLTech.
The expanded partnership builds on an earlier collaboration announced in January 2026, when Guardian selected HCLTech to support enterprise-wide technology transformation through AI-enabled engineering and IT services. The latest agreement broadens that relationship by combining technology modernization with the transfer of Guardian’s India operations into HCLTech’s global delivery network.
The announcement underscores the growing role of long-term technology partnerships in the insurance sector, where AI is increasingly being adopted to modernize operations, improve customer experiences and enhance business efficiency.
Source: This article is based on an official press release issued by HCL Tech
HCLTech and Guardian Sign New Expanded Partnership for AI-powered Modernization Across Technology and Operations | HCLTech
