Zoho Corporation CEO Sridhar Vembu stepped down to focus on the company’s research and development initiatives as its Chief Scientist.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

Sridhar Vembu, founder and CEO of Zoho Corporation, a Chennai-based tech firm, has stepped down as the CEO to take up Chief Scientist’s job in the company.

The company’s co-founder Shailesh Kumar Davey will take over as the group CEO.

“A new chapter begins today,” he wrote on social media platform, X, on Monday (January 27, 2025).

He wrote: “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.”

“I will step down as CEO of Zoho Corp and take a new role as Chief Scientist, responsible for deep R&D initiatives. Our co-founder Shailesh Kumar Davey will serve as our new group CEO. Our co-founder Tony Thomas will lead Zoho US. Rajesh Ganesan will lead our ManageEngine division and Mani Vembu will lead the Zoho.com division,” he further wrote.

Vembu’s post further said, the future of Zoho entirely depended on how well it navigated the R&D challenge.

He closed his post saying, “I am looking forward to my new assignment with energy and vigour. I am also very happy to get back to hands on technical work”

Initially known as AdventNet, Inc., Chennai-headquartered Zoho Corp was founded in 1996.