Mon Jan 27 11:42:34 UTC 2025: ## Zoho Founder Sridhar Vembu Steps Down as CEO to Focus on R&D
**CHENNAI, INDIA – January 27, 2025** – Sridhar Vembu, founder and CEO of software giant Zoho Corporation, announced his resignation from the CEO position today. Vembu, who was previously listed among India’s wealthiest individuals and a recipient of the Padma Shri award, will transition to the role of Chief Scientist, dedicating his time to overseeing research and development initiatives.
In a post on X, Vembu cited the evolving technological landscape, particularly recent advancements in artificial intelligence, as a key driver for the change. He also mentioned his continued commitment to his personal rural development mission.
Co-founder Shailesh Kumar Davey will assume the role of Group CEO, succeeding Vembu. Other leadership changes include Tony Thomas leading Zoho US, Rajesh Ganesan heading the ManageEngine division, and Mani Vembu taking the helm of the Zoho.com division.
Vembu founded AdventNet (later renamed Zoho Corporation) in 1996, after working as a wireless engineer at Qualcomm. Zoho, a prominent player in the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) market, offers subscription-based software and services to businesses globally. Vembu relocated to Tenkasi in Tamil Nadu in 2019. He expressed optimism about Zoho’s future, emphasizing the critical role of R&D in navigating current challenges and opportunities. Reports last year suggested Zoho was exploring entry into the chip-making industry.
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