The founder of Zoho Corp., Sridhar Vembu, has declared that he will no longer serve as the company’s CEO and will instead become its “chief scientist,” concentrating on research and development.
Vembu clarified in a post on X (previously Twitter) that he made the choice in response to opportunities and difficulties in the technology sector, specifically in the area of artificial intelligence (AI). “A new chapter begins today. 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,” he wrote.
Co-founder Shailesh Kumar Davey has been given the position of group CEO by Vembu as part of the leadership change. He also revealed that Tony Thomas, another co-founder, will be in charge of Zoho’s US operations. Mani Vembu will be in charge of the company’s Zoho.com division, while Rajesh Ganesan will lead the ManageEngine division.
Vembu underlined that Zoho’s capacity to innovate in research and development will determine its destiny. “How well we handle the R&D challenge will determine the future of our company, and I am eagerly awaiting my new assignment,” he stated. Additionally, he conveyed excitement about getting back to doing practical technical work, which has always been a passion of his.
Given that AI-driven solutions are increasingly becoming essential to business software, Vembu’s new position implies that the company is stepping up its innovation efforts. Vembu’s move signifies a strategy shift toward future-proofing Zoho’s technological foundation in addition to a change in leadership.
