Zoho Corp Founder Sridhar Vembu Resigned from CEO Role

-In a post on X, Vembu shared that he will now focus on overseeing deep research and development initiatives.

-He also announced that Zoho’s cofounder, Shailesh Kumar Davey, will take over as the new group CEO.

--Zoho is known for its large suite of integrated products, helping businesses streamline various operations under a single platform.

Sridhar Vembu, founder and CEO of Zoho Corporation, announced on Monday that he has stepped down as CEO to take on the role of chief scientist at the company.

In a post on X, Vembu, who was ranked as the 39th richest person in India with a net worth of $5.85 billion last year and received the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, in 2021, shared that he will now focus on overseeing deep research and development initiatives.

Zoho is known for its large suite of integrated products, helping businesses streamline various operations under a single platform. It operates primarily on a subscription model, catering to businesses of all sizes worldwide.

"In light of the various challenges and opportunities ahead, including recent advancements in AI, I believe it's best for me to dedicate my full attention to R&D initiatives, as well as my personal rural development mission," Vembu wrote.

He also announced that Zoho’s cofounder, Shailesh Kumar Davey, will take over as the 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,” said Vembu.

After completing his education, Sridhar Vembu worked briefly at Qualcomm in the United States, where he gained exposure to the tech industry and developed his skills in software development and networking. His time at Qualcomm also provided him with an understanding of the growing potential in the software and technology sectors.

However, Vembu soon decided to return to India and pursue his entrepreneurial ambitions. In 1996, he co-founded AdventNet, which would later be renamed Zoho Corporation. This move marked the beginning of his career as a tech entrepreneur.

Starting Zoho

Sridhar Vembu founded Zoho (originally named AdventNet) in 1996 along with his brother Tony and a group of engineers. The company initially focused on network management software, catering to large businesses and providing tools for IT infrastructure management. 

However, Vembu soon recognized the potential of cloud computing and pivoted the company towards providing a broad suite of software products for businesses, ranging from CRM to project management.

The decision to build Zoho as a cloud-based platform was ahead of its time, especially considering the challenges and limitations of cloud infrastructure in the 1990s. 

Despite early financial struggles, Vembu remained committed to his vision, and Zoho gradually expanded its offerings to include over 45 different applications designed to help businesses run more efficiently.

Zoho’s strategy of focusing on a self-sustaining business model and offering high-quality software at competitive prices allowed the company to grow rapidly without relying on external funding. 

This approach also helped Zoho become one of the few major tech companies in India to maintain full ownership and control without outside investors.

Today, Zoho is one of the most successful and widely used SaaS providers in the world, with millions of users globally.

Sridhar Vembu holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras (now IIT Chennai), one of India's top technical institutions. 

He later went on to complete a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University in the United States, further strengthening his technical and academic expertise.