Sridhar Vembu, the CEO of global technology giant Zoho Corporation, has announced his resignation from the top post to shift his focus towards the company’s research and development (R&D) efforts. Vembu, a long-time advocate for innovation, will now assume the role of Chief Scientist at Zoho, where he intends to delve deeper into the company’s R&D initiatives. The leadership mantle has been passed to co-founder Shailesh Kumar Davey, who will take over as the new group CEO.
“In view of the various challenges and opportunities facing us, including recent major developments in AI, it has been decided that it is best that I should focus full-time on R&D initiatives, along with pursuing my personal rural development mission,” Vembu shared in a post on micro-blogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter) on Monday.
Vembu, who has been at the helm of Zoho for years, expressed his enthusiasm for the new chapter in his professional journey. “I will step down as CEO of Zoho Corp and take a new role as Chief Scientist, responsible for deep R&D initiatives,” he stated. However, the specific timeline for the transition remains unclear.
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The shift in leadership also brings about structural changes within the company. Co-founder Tony Thomas will now head Zoho US, while Rajesh Ganesan will oversee the ManageEngine division, and Mani Vembu will lead the Zoho.com division, as outlined by Vembu in his announcement.
“The future of our company entirely depends on how well we navigate the R&D challenge and I am looking forward to my new assignment with energy and vigor. I am also very happy to get back to hands-on technical work,” Vembu added, underscoring his renewed passion for the technological and innovative aspects of the business.
Founded in 1996 as AdventNet, Inc. and headquartered in Chennai, Zoho Corporation has grown into a leading global technology firm, known for its suite of software solutions. The company’s commitment to innovation is reflected in its continuous investment in R&D and strategic leadership transitions.
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