Sridhar Vembu announced on Monday, January 27, that he has stepped down as CEO of Zoho Corp to assume the position of Chief Scientist. In a post on X, he shared that co-founder Shailesh Kumar Davey will take over as the new group CEO. Vembu explained that his decision to transition from CEO to Chief Scientist was influenced by the challenges and opportunities presented by advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI). He stated, “A new chapter begins today. Given the various challenges and opportunities we face, particularly with recent significant developments in AI, I believe it is best for me to concentrate fully on R&D initiatives while also pursuing my personal mission in rural development. I will step down as CEO of Zoho Corp and take on the role of Chief Scientist, focusing on deep R&D initiatives.”
He also announced the leadership structure moving forward: “Our co-founder Shailesh Kumar Davey will serve as our new group CEO. Co-founder Tony Thomas will lead Zoho US, Rajesh Ganesan will head the ManageEngine division, and Mani Vembu will oversee the Zoho division. The future of our company hinges on how effectively we tackle the R&D challenges ahead.”
