Mon Jan 27 20:22:16 UTC 2025: ## Zoho Founder Sridhar Vembu Steps Down as CEO, Focuses on R&D
**Chennai, India –** Sridhar Vembu, founder and CEO of the global software giant Zoho Corp, has announced a significant leadership transition, stepping down from his CEO role to focus on research and development as the company’s new Chief Scientist. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Vembu cited the challenges and opportunities presented by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) as the primary driver for the change.
Vembu, a key figure in Zoho’s growth since its inception, will now dedicate his time to leading R&D initiatives and pursuing his personal rural development mission. His departure from the CEO position marks the beginning of a new chapter for the company, which has millions of users worldwide.
Taking the reins as Zoho’s new Group CEO is co-founder Shailesh Kumar Davey. Other leadership changes include the appointment of co-founder Tony Thomas to head Zoho’s US operations, Rajesh Ganesan as head of the ManageEngine division, and Mani Vembu overseeing the Zoho.com division.
Vembu emphasized the critical role of R&D, particularly in navigating the AI landscape, in Zoho’s future success. He expressed enthusiasm for returning to hands-on technical work in his new role. Zoho, headquartered in Chennai, offers a comprehensive suite of business software products, including CRM, project management, and enterprise tools.
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