Indian talent has made a significant impact on the global business landscape, with many accomplished individuals from India leading some of the world’s most successful companies. These leaders have shown remarkable expertise, creativity, and resilience in navigating complex business environments, driving innovation, and delivering strong results. Indian executives have proven their mettle on the international stage. The rise of Indian talent in global leadership positions is a testament to the country’s growing economic influence and the high-quality education and training that Indian professionals receive. As the world becomes more connected and businesses become more global, Indian leaders are poised to play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of the global economy. Here are 25 of the top Indian CEOs and executives leading renowned businesses and organizations.
1- PUNIT RENJEN
COMPANY: DELOITTE – $26.7 Billion (2022)
Punit Renjen is an Indian-American business executive who served as the Global CEO Emeritus of Deloitte, one of the largest consulting services firms in the world. He has been with Deloitte for over 30 years and has held a variety of leadership roles in the company’s consulting and audit businesses. Under Renjen’s leadership, Deloitte has continued to grow and expand its services globally. In 2021, the company had a market valuation of over $50 billion and employed over 330,000 people across 150 countries. Punit Renjen has been focused on driving innovation and digital transformation across all of Deloitte’s businesses, as well as promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the company and in the wider business community. He has also been a vocal advocate for the importance of corporate social responsibility and sustainability.
2- DEVIKA BULCHANDANI
COMPANY: OGLIVY – $1.5 Billion (2022)
Devika Bulchandani is an Indian-American business executive serving as the CEO of advertising and marketing giant Ogilvy, making her the first woman of colour to lead the global agency network. As the CEO, she is responsible for overseeing Ogilvy’s operations across 131 offices in 93 countries, including Advertising, Public Relations, Experience, Consulting, and Health units. Previously, Bulchandani served as the Global President and CEO of Ogilvy North America and spent 26 years at McCann in various leadership roles, including President of McCann North America. Bulchandani’s work has focused on creating positive social impacts through creativity, and she has won numerous awards and accolades for her efforts. Her most significant achievements have come from championing social causes as part of brand-building efforts.
3- REVATHI ADVAITHI
COMPANY: FLEX – $9.53 Billion
Revathi Advaithi is an Indian-American business executive serving as the CEO of Flex, a global manufacturing company that helps customers design and build products to improve the world. Since assuming the role in February 2019, Advaithi has led Flex through a transformation that focuses on driving technology innovation, supply chain, and sustainable manufacturing solutions. Prior to Flex, Advaithi was the president and COO of Eaton’s electrical sector business, where she oversaw over $20 billion in sales and 102,000 employees. Advaithi holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science in Pilani, India, and an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. She is a co-chair of the World Economic Forum Advanced Manufacturing CEO Community, a member of the Business Roundtable, and the Catalyst CEO Champions for Change initiative. Advaithi has been recognized by Fortune’s Most Powerful Women in Business list for three consecutive years and named one of Business Today’s Most Powerful Women in India.
4- ANJALI SUD
COMPANY: VIMEO – $584.89 Million
Anjali Sud is an Indian-American business executive serving as the CEO of Vimeo, a video platform with over 280 million users worldwide. She has been the CEO since July 2017 and led the company through significant business transformation, taking it public in 2021. Before becoming CEO, Sud was the company’s general manager and head of marketing. Sud is a tech industry veteran, with previous positions at Amazon and Time Warner. She has been recognized in Fortune’s “40 Under 40,” Crain’s “40 Under 40,” Adweek’s “Power List,” and The Hollywood Reporter’s “Next Gen Under 35.” Sud was also named a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum and serves on the board of directors at Dolby Laboratories. Vimeo sees 350,000 new videos uploaded to its platform every day.
5- ARVIND KRISHNA
COMPANY: IBM – $113.91 Billion
Arvind Krishna is an Indian-American business executive serving as the CEO and Chairman of IBM, appointed in April 2020 and December 2020, respectively. He joined the company in 1990 and led the IBM Cloud and Cognitive Software business unit before becoming CEO. He played a significant role in the acquisition of Red Hat, the largest acquisition in IBM’s history. In addition to his role at IBM, Krishna serves as a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Northrop Grumman Corporation. Krishna has an undergraduate degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
6- R RAGHURAM
COMPANY: VMWARE – $50.60 Billion
Raghu Raghuram is an Indian-American business executive serving as the CEO of VMware, where he has been working since 2003. He has played a significant role in shaping the company’s strategy and technology evolution. Before joining VMware, Raghuram held product management and marketing positions at AOL, Bang Networks, and Netscape. He has an MBA from the Wharton School of Business and a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. Raghuram has held several leadership roles at VMware, including Chief Operating Officer, Products and Cloud Services, where he was responsible for all of the company’s product and service offerings, as well as centralized services, support, and operational functions.
7- SATYA NADELLA
COMPANY: MICROSOFT – $1.94 Trillion
Satya Nadella is an Indian-American business executive serving as the Chairman and CEO of Microsoft. He joined Microsoft in 1992 and held leadership roles in both enterprise and consumer businesses before becoming CEO in 2014. Nadella is known for his ability to transform Microsoft’s biggest product offerings by leveraging a breadth of technologies and businesses. He has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Mangalore University, a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and an MBA from the University of Chicago. Most recently, he led Microsoft’s Cloud and Enterprise group, where he successfully transformed the company’s cloud infrastructure and services business, outperforming the market and taking share from the competition.
8- RAJ SUBRAMANIAM
COMPANY: FEDEX – $49.95 Billion
Raj Subramaniam is an Indian-American business executive serving as the President and CEO of FedEx Corporation, overseeing all FedEx operating companies. He has over 30 years of industry experience at FedEx and previously held various leadership roles in operations and marketing across the company’s portfolio of operating companies. Subramaniam was named President and CEO-elect in March 2022 and assumed the role of President and CEO in September 2022. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Syracuse University, and an MBA from The University of Texas at Austin. FedEx Corporation is one of the world’s largest transportation companies, with an annual revenue of $94 billion and global headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee.
9- SUNDAR PICHAI
COMPANY: ALPHABET – $1.17 Trillion
Sundar Pichai, the Indian-American business executive serving as the Google CEO, is a tech industry icon. He joined Google in 2004 and played a key role in the development of Google Chrome, one of the world’s renowned browsers. Born in Madurai, India, Pichai earned his B. Tech from IIT Kharagpur, an M.S. from Stanford, and worked at successful companies like Applied Materials and McKinsey before joining Google. Under his leadership, Google has expanded its reach and influence in the tech world, making him one of the most powerful people in the industry. His innovative efforts in the development of Chrome and Chrome OS have been instrumental in their success. Pichai is a true inspiration, proving that hard work, education, and a passion for technology can lead to incredible achievements.
10- SANJAY MEHROTRA
COMPANY: MICRON – $59.22 Billion
Sanjay Mehrotra is an Indian-American business executive serving as the President and CEO of Micron Technology, a leading memory and storage solutions provider. Prior to Micron, he co-founded SanDisk Corporation, serving as its President and CEO, and overseeing its growth into a Fortune 500 company. Mr. Mehrotra has also held design engineering positions at Intel Corporation, SEEQ Technology, and Integrated Device Technology, Inc. He currently serves on the board of CDW Corporation and has previously served on the board of Cavium, Inc. Mr. Mehrotra holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of California, Berkeley, and is a graduate of the Stanford Graduate School of Business Executive Program. He is a prolific inventor, holding over 70 patents and publishing articles in non-volatile memory design and flash memory systems.
11- LAXMAN NARSIMHAN
COMPANY: STARBUCKS – $113.87 Billion
Laxman Narasimhan is an Indian-American business executive serving as the CEO of Starbucks and a member in the board of directors. Appointed as the incoming CEO on October 1, 2022, Narasimhan has almost 30 years of experience in leading and advising global consumer brands. He is a purpose-led brand expert with considerable operational and transformational expertise. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering, a Master of Arts in German and International Studies, and a Master of Business Administration in Finance. Narasimhan has held various leadership positions, including as CEO of Reckitt, where he led the company through a transformation and return to sustainable growth. He also served as a global chief commercial officer at PepsiCo, responsible for the company’s long-term growth strategy and commercial capabilities. Prior to PepsiCo, he spent 19 years at McKinsey & Company, advising retail, healthcare, and consumer goods companies in the U.S., Asia, and India, and leading the firm’s thinking on the future of retail.
12- RAVI KUMAR
COMPANY: COGNIZANT – $29.76 Billion
Ravi Kumar S is an Indian-American business executive serving as the CEO of Cognizant since January 2023 and is responsible for driving the company’s strategic direction, culture, and growth. He has extensive experience in digital transformation, technology services, and consulting, and sits on several boards, including the New York Academy of Sciences, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the International Tennis Hall of Fame. He holds an engineering degree from Shivaji University and an MBA from Xavier Institute of Management, India. Prior to joining Cognizant, Ravi was the President of Infosys from 2016 to 2022, where he led the global services organization and was Chairman of the Board of Infosys BPM Ltd. He also served as Group Head for Insurance, Healthcare, and Cards and Payments, and led the Global Delivery organization, building the Oracle and CRM practices.
13- VASANT NARSIMHAN
COMPANY: NOVARTIS – $180.57 Billion
Vas Narasimhan is an Indian-American physician and business executive serving as the CEO of Novartis, a company of over 105,000 employees that provides medicines in more than 140 countries, reaching 743 million patients with its medicines in 2022. Narasimhan has led the company’s strategic and cultural transformation to focus on delivering high-value medicines that address society’s greatest disease burdens through technology leadership in R&D and novel access approaches. His personal purpose is to inspire a healthier world, which is reflected in his commitment to improving global health priorities and expanding access to innovative medicines in low- and middle-income countries by at least 200% by 2025. Narasimhan has also held several leadership positions at Novartis, including Global Head of Development for Novartis Vaccines and Global Head of Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer. He holds a doctor of medicine degree from Harvard Medical School, a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University, and a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from the University of Chicago.
14- NEAL MOHAN
COMPANY: YOUTUBE – $160 Billion
Neal Mohan, an Indian-American business executive, has been appointed as the new CEO of YouTube, succeeding long-time Alphabet executive Susan Wojcicki. Mohan joins a prestigious list of Indian-origin tech leaders, such as Sundar Pichai of Google and Alphabet, Satya Nadella of Microsoft, Shantanu Narayen of Adobe, and Arvind Krishna of IBM. Mohan brings to the table years of experience in the tech industry and played a pivotal role in launching some of YouTube’s most significant products, including YouTube TV, Music, Premium, and Shorts, as the company’s former chief product officer. With conversational AI being the latest trend, the future of YouTube under Mohan’s leadership will undoubtedly be interesting to observe. He began his career at Accenture before going on to receive a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and an MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.
15- SHANTANU NARAYEN
COMPANY: ADOBE – $152.60 Billion
Shantanu Narayen is an Indian-American business executive serving as the chairman and CEO of Adobe, where he has led the company to become a software industry innovator. He pioneered a cloud-based subscription model for Adobe’s creative suite, established a global standard for digital documents, and led the digital experience category. Narayen joined Adobe in 1998, became president and COO in 2005, CEO in 2007, and chairman in 2017. He is also the vice chairman of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, sits on the board of Pfizer, and has been recognized as one of the world’s leading executives. Before joining Adobe, Narayen held product development roles at Apple and Silicon Graphics and cofounded a photo-sharing startup. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electronics engineering from Osmania University, a master’s degree in computer science from Bowling Green State University, and an MBA from the University of California at Berkeley.
16- NIKESH ARORA
COMPANY: PALO ALTO NETWORKS – $55.83 Billion
Nikesh Arora is an Indian-American business executive serving as the chairman and CEO of Palo Alto Networks since June 2018. Prior to joining Palo Alto Networks, Nikesh held several high-profile positions in the tech industry. He served as the president and chief operating officer of SoftBank Group Corp, a Japanese multinational conglomerate, before moving on to become the CEO of Palo Alto Networks Before SoftBank, Nikesh spent over a decade at Google, Inc., where he held several key leadership positions. During his tenure at Google, he was responsible for overseeing global sales operations and business development, as well as managing the company’s operations in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Nikesh holds multiple degrees, including a Bachelor of Technology in electrical engineering from the Institute of Technology at Banaras Hindu University, an M.S. in finance from Boston College, and an M.S. in business administration from Northeastern University.
17- THOMAS KURIAN
COMPANY: GOOGLE CLOUD – $ 1.29 Trillion
Thomas Kurian is an Indian-American business executive serving as the CEO of Google Cloud. He previously served as the Executive Vice President of Oracle Product Development, where he led product strategy, software development, and delivery. Prior to that, he worked as a consultant with McKinsey and Company in London, Brussels, and San Francisco, serving clients in the software, telecommunications, and financial services industries. Kurian graduated summa cum laude with a BA in electrical engineering from Princeton University and holds an MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He also serves as an advisory member on the boards of several international venture funds and software companies.
18- SANDEEP KATARIA
COMPANY: BATA – $ 21 Billion
Sandeep Kataria is an Indian business executive serving as the Global CEO of Bata Shoe Organization. In 2021, he stepped down from his role as CEO of Bata India to focus on his global responsibilities as the Global CEO appointee. Kataria became the first Indian to be appointed as Bata’s Global CEO in November 2020, succeeding Alexis Nasard. Prior to joining Bata in 2017, Kataria had worked with top global companies such as Unilever, Yum Brands, and Vodafone in India and Europe, bringing extensive leadership experience in working across geographies. Under his leadership, Bata India witnessed double-digit top-line growth and doubled its profits, with campaigns such as “Surprisingly Bata” targeting younger consumers and revamping Bata’s image as a more contemporary brand. Kataria is known for his intuitive understanding of consumers and inclusive leadership style.
19- GEORGE KURIAN
COMPANY: NETAPP – $13.07 Billion
George Kurian is an Indian-American business executive serving as the CEO of NetApp and a member of the board of directors. He joined the company in 2011 and became the CEO in 2015. Prior to becoming the CEO, George was the executive vice president of Product Operations and senior vice president of the Data ONTAP Group at NetApp. Before joining NetApp, he was the vice president and general manager of the Application Networking and Switching Technology Group at Cisco Systems. George also worked at Akamai Technologies and Oracle Corporation. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Princeton University and an MBA from Stanford University. George is known for his passion and focus on execution, and his leadership has been instrumental in NetApp’s growth and success.
20- AMRAPALI GAN
COMPANY: ONLYFANS – $1 Billion
Amrapali Gan, a marketing executive from Mumbai, India, serves as the CEO of OnlyFans. She has an Associate of Arts degree in Merchandise Marketing from FIDM, a Bachelor of Arts in PR and Organisational Communications from California State University, and a Certificate of Entrepreneurship from Harvard Business School Online. Before becoming CEO, she served as OnlyFans’ Chief Marketing and Communications Officer from 2020. Prior to that, she held positions such as Vice President of Marketing & Publicity at Cannabis Cafe, Director of Communications at Lowell Herb Co., and Brand Activation & Communications Manager at Red Bull Media House. She has also worked in marketing roles at several startups between 2008 and 2016.
21- JAYSHREE ULLAL
COMPANY: ARISTA NETWORK – $46.92 Billion
Jayshree Ullal is an Indian-American business executive serving as the President and CEO of Arista Networks, a leading cloud networking company where she has led the company to a successful IPO and transformed it into a multibillion-dollar business. Previously, she was a Senior Vice President at Cisco, overseeing a $10 billion data center, switching, and services business. With over 30 years of networking experience, Ullal has been recognized with numerous awards, including E&Y’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2015 and Barron’s “World’s Best CEOs” in 2018. She holds an Electrical Engineering degree and a Master’s degree in Engineering Management. Ullal is also a recipient of the SFSU and SCU Distinguished Alumni Awards.
22- LEENA NIAR
COMPANY: CHANEL – $15.3 Billion
Leena Nair is an Indian business executive serving as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the luxury brand, Chanel. She is recognized as one of the Most Powerful Women of 2021 by Fortune India. Nair graduated as a gold medallist from XLRI – Xavier School of Management and became the first woman in the Management Committee of Hindustan Unilever in 90 years in 2007. She was later appointed as the Chief Human Resources Officer and member of the Unilever Leadership Executive in London, where she made history by becoming the first female, first Asian, and youngest-ever Chief Human Resources Officer at Unilever. Nair stepped down from her role at Unilever after being appointed CEO of Chanel on December 14, 2021.
23- NIRAJ SHAH
COMPANY: WAYFAIR – $3.60 Billion
Niraj Shah is an Indian-American business executive serving as the CEO and Co-Chairman of Wayfair, the largest online retailer of home furnishings in the U.S. He co-founded the company in 2002 with Steve Conine and grew it to generate $12.2 billion in net revenue for the full year 2022. Before Wayfair, he was CEO of Simplify Mobile, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Greylock Partners, COO of iXL, and CEO of Spinners, which was sold to iXL. Niraj has been named in Fortune Magazine’s 40 Under 40 and received the Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year award. He sits on the boards of the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership, Cornell Tech Council, MIT Presidential CEO Advisory Board, and MGH President’s Council. Niraj holds a B.S. in engineering from Cornell University and was a former board member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
24- VIVEK SANKARAN
COMPANY: ALBERTSONS COMPANIES – $11.18 Billion
Vivek Sankaran is an Indian-American business executive serving as the CEO of Albertsons Companies, Inc. Prior to joining Albertsons in the year 2019, he served as CEO, President and COO of PepsiCo Foods North America, and held other leadership positions at PepsiCo, including Chief Commercial Officer and Senior VP of Strategy. Before joining PepsiCo, Vivek was a partner at McKinsey and Company, where he specialized in strategy and operations for various Fortune 100 companies. He co-led the firm’s North American purchasing and supply management practice and was on the leadership team of the North American retail practice. Vivek holds an MBA from the University of Michigan, a master’s degree in manufacturing from Georgia Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chennai, India.
25- AJAYPAL BANGA
COMPANY: GENERAL ATLANTIC – $371 Million
Ajay Banga is an Indian-American business executive serving as the Vice Chairman at General Atlantic, with expertise in technology, data, and financial services. He served as Mastercard’s CEO for 11 years and later became its Executive Chairman. With a long-standing career of advocating for partnership and profit-driven systems, he has advised governments, companies, and organizations on commercial and social impact strategies. Prior to Mastercard, Ajay Banga served as CEO of Citigroup Asia Pacific and held several senior management roles across various regions. He began his career at Nestlé India after receiving his MBA degree from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad in 1981. Ajay Banga has received several awards and honours, including the Indian civilian honour Padma Shri conferred by the Government of India in 2016. At General Atlantic, he focuses on global technology investments and driving value creation through sustainable growth.
In conclusion, Indian talent has made significant contributions to the global business world, with many talented executives at the helm of leading companies worldwide. These leaders have demonstrated exceptional skill and leadership, driving innovation, and delivering strong results in complex business environments. As the world continues to become more interconnected and global, Indian leaders are well-positioned to continue playing a crucial role in shaping the future of the global economy. With their deep expertise and unwavering determination, Indian executives are sure to continue making a significant impact on the business landscape for years to come.