ESGI Potomac Recruits CFO for MTSI
October 8, 2026 – ESGI Potomac recently assisted in the recruitment of Ashutosh Gokhale as executive vice president and CFO of Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI). “We welcome Ashutosh Gokhale as our new executive vice president and chief financial officer,” said Kevin Robinson, MTSI president and CEO. “As MTSI continues its growth trajectory, Ashutosh’s leadership, financial expertise, and strategic perspective will help positions the company for continued success while advancing its mission to solve the nation’s most technically challenging defense and security problems.”
Mr. Gokhale brings to MTSI more than 20 years of financial leadership experience supporting growth, operational excellence, and strategic business transformation across the defense and government services sectors.
Most recently, Mr. Gokhale served as CFO of HII’s Mission Technologies division, where he helped grow annual revenues to $3 billion, improved profitability, and strengthened cash position while leading initiatives including integration of Alion acquisition, modernization of enterprise systems and revamping internal control framework. His prior experience includes leadership roles at Maximus, Emcor Group, US Airways, and Verizon.
“It is a privilege to join MTSI as CFO,” said Mr. Gokhale. “With a clear leadership vision and a talented team and, the company is well‑positioned for continued growth. I look forward to helping guide our financial strategy as we build on this strong growth momentum.”
MTSI is a 100 percent employee-owned engineering services and technology solutions company delivering first-choice capabilities to solve problems of global importance in the critical mission areas of missile defense, cybersecurity, intelligence, unmanned/autonomous systems, aviation, space, and homeland security.
ESGI Potomac has helped clients fill positions varying from the board of directors, advisory boards, and corporate officers such as the CEO, COO, CFO, VP business development, VP federal sales/operations, and a host of other high-impact functional roles. ESGI works very closely with graduating and graduated companies to recruit leadership that knows how to scale a business. Much of the work is centered around security to include cyber, big data, analytics, cloud security/mobility, biometrics, and AI. Clients range from large blue-chip federal integrators to small and mid-cap companies.
Proven Experience
Evan Scott is president of ESGI Potomac. With nearly three decades of executive search experience, he has helped numerous systems integrators, software, biometrics, services, product companies, and small government contractors hire top-level executive talent.
Mr. Scott recently sat down with Hunt Scanlon Media to discuss how executive hiring is evolving across these markets and what clients are prioritizing in senior talent. “After more than 35 years in executive search, I can honestly say leadership has never been more important to a company’s success than it is today,” he said. “The right executive can dramatically change the trajectory of a business.”
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Companies have become much more selective about who they hire, according to Mr. Scott. “A few years ago, strong résumés and recognizable company names might have been enough,” he explained. “Today, clients want proof. They want executives who have delivered growth, improved EBITDA, won significant programs, successfully integrated acquisitions, or built high-performing organizations. The war for proven talent remains very real, but companies are taking more time to make hiring decisions because the stakes have gotten higher.”
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Hunt Scanlon also asked Mr. Scott if clients becoming more open to recruiting executives from outside the traditional government contracting community. “Yes, but with some caution,” he said. “We are seeing greater interest in executives from commercial technology, cybersecurity, aerospace, healthcare technology, and other adjacent sectors. The key question is whether they can successfully adapt to the culture, pace, and regulatory environment of government contracting. When they can, they often bring fresh perspectives and new ideas that create competitive advantages.”
ESGI Potomac spends a great deal of time understanding how candidates achieved their results, not just what titles they held. “Federal contracting requires a unique combination of leadership, resilience, operational discipline, and relationship-building skills,” Mr. Scott said. “We evaluate how executives have handled pressure, managed complex stakeholder environments, built teams, navigated regulatory challenges, and delivered measurable business results. Past performance remains one of the best indicators of future success.”
To read the full interview with Mr. Scott, click here!
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
