Sunny Verghese is the Co-founder, Group Managing Director, and Chief Executive Officer of Olam Group, a leading global food and agri-business. He was appointed to Olam’s Board in 1996 and has been at the helm of the company since its inception in 1989. Under his leadership, Olam has grown significantly, operating in over 60 countries and delivering a wide range of agricultural raw materials and food ingredients to customers worldwide. In 2020, Olam underwent a significant reorganization, dividing its diverse portfolio into two new operating businesses: Olam Food Ingredients (OFI) and Olam Global Agri (OGA), with Verghese holding charge as CEO of Olam Global Agri and the Remaining Businesses of Olam Group.

Verghese is recognized as a prominent voice in sustainability within the food and agriculture sector. He served as the Chair of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) from 2018 to 2021, a global CEO-led organization focused on accelerating the transition to a sustainable world. He was also a Commissioner of the Business & Sustainable Development Commission (BSDC).

He holds a postgraduate degree in Business Management from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and has completed the Advanced Management Programme from the Harvard Business School. Throughout his career, Verghese has received numerous accolades, including “Outstanding Chief Executive” at the Singapore Business Awards in 2007, “Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year” for Singapore in 2008, and “Best CEO of the Year” at the Singapore Corporate Awards in 2011. He was also conferred The Public Service Medal by the Government of Singapore in 2010 and was recognized as a Distinguished Alumni by IIMA in 2011.  He currently chairs the Board of the Human Capital Leadership Institute (HCLI) in Singapore, JOil (S) Pte Ltd, and serves on the Board of Trustees of Singapore Management University, among other roles. In April 2022, he was appointed Chairman of GenZero, Temasek’s Carbon Solutions Platform. Indiaspora is proud to have Sunny Verghese on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.