Lineage, Inc. Announces CIO and CTO Retirement and Leadership Transition Plan
Lineage, Inc., the world’s largest global temperature-controlled warehouse REIT, has announced the planned retirement of its Chief Information Officer and Chief Transformation Officer, Sudarsan Thattai, along with a structured leadership transition plan designed to ensure continuity across its global technology and transformation initiatives. The company confirmed that Thattai will continue serving in his role through a phased transition period and remain with Lineage until his planned retirement in April 2027.
The retirement plan reflects a long-term succession strategy aimed at maintaining stability within the company’s critical IT and transformation functions. Lineage emphasized that the transition has been carefully designed to preserve momentum across ongoing technology programs while ensuring that leadership responsibilities are gradually and smoothly handed over. During this period, Thattai will continue to focus on high-impact strategic initiatives as Chief Transformation Officer, while stepping back from day-to-day operational responsibilities.
As part of the transition, leadership of Lineage’s global information technology and technology organization will shift to Chris Johnson, also known as CJ, who currently serves as Vice President of Technology Projects. Johnson will assume responsibility for day-to-day IT operations and execution, allowing Thattai to concentrate on forward-looking transformation priorities that align with the company’s long-term innovation roadmap. This dual-structure approach is intended to balance continuity with strategic focus during the leadership change.
Lineage President and Chief Executive Officer Greg Lehmkuhl expressed appreciation for Thattai’s long-standing contributions to the company. He highlighted that over his 13-year tenure, Thattai has played a foundational role in shaping Lineage’s technology strategy and innovation capabilities. Lehmkuhl noted that Thattai’s leadership has been instrumental in building high-performing teams and implementing advanced systems that support the company’s global operations across its temperature-controlled warehouse network.
According to Lehmkuhl, Thattai’s impact extends beyond operational improvements, as he has been central to establishing a strong digital and technology backbone for the organization. His work has helped position Lineage as a technology-driven leader within the cold chain logistics industry, where efficiency, precision, and real-time data visibility are critical to managing global supply chains.
One of Thattai’s most significant contributions has been the development and deployment of LinOS, Lineage’s proprietary warehouse execution system. This platform has played a key role in modernizing warehouse operations by improving automation, optimizing inventory management, and enhancing end-to-end supply chain visibility. LinOS has become a core component of Lineage’s digital infrastructure and a major enabler of operational efficiency across its global network.
Before joining Lineage in 2013, Thattai held senior technology leadership roles at UTi Worldwide, where he gained extensive experience in logistics and supply chain systems. His background in large-scale technology transformation has been instrumental in guiding Lineage through a period of rapid expansion and digital modernization.
Throughout his tenure, Thattai has overseen the integration of technology into nearly every aspect of Lineage’s operations. This includes not only warehouse management systems but also data analytics, automation tools, and enterprise platforms that support decision-making across the organization. His leadership has helped align technology investments with business strategy, ensuring that digital capabilities support the company’s growth and operational objectives.
The company stated that the transition plan has been designed to ensure knowledge transfer and leadership continuity. By appointing Chris Johnson to oversee daily IT operations while Thattai remains in a strategic CTO role, Lineage aims to minimize disruption and maintain steady progress on ongoing initiatives. Johnson’s experience in technology project execution is expected to support a seamless handoff and ensure operational stability across global systems.
Thattai expressed gratitude for his time at Lineage and reflected on the company’s evolution during his tenure. He described his experience as a privilege and emphasized the organization’s strong position for continued growth and innovation. He noted that the company’s technology foundation is robust and well-prepared to support future advancements in the cold chain sector.
He also highlighted his confidence in the leadership team and the company’s long-term direction. According to Thattai, Lineage is well positioned to continue building on its existing strengths while further advancing innovation within the global cold storage and logistics industry. He emphasized that the company’s commitment to technology-driven transformation will remain a key driver of its success moving forward.
The announcement underscores Lineage’s focus on succession planning and leadership continuity within its executive team. By implementing a phased retirement process, the company is ensuring that critical institutional knowledge is preserved while enabling new leadership to gradually assume responsibilities. This approach reflects best practices in large-scale enterprise transitions, particularly in technology-intensive industries.
As the transition progresses toward 2027, Lineage will continue to rely on both Thattai’s strategic oversight and Johnson’s operational leadership to maintain stability and drive innovation. The company’s emphasis on structured succession highlights its commitment to long-term growth, operational excellence, and continued investment in technology as a core pillar of its global cold chain logistics strategy.
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