Business Leaders List 2.0
Indiaspora is excited to share our Business Leaders 2.0 List. Like our 2020 Business Leaders List, we once again shine a light on some of the most prominent leaders in business today.
While a few are widely recognized names, others may be less familiar—yet all hold key roles as CEOs, Presidents, or Board Chairs at some of the world’s largest and most influential companies.
About
The Indiaspora Government Leaders List recognizes more than 200 leaders of the Indian diaspora who have reached the pinnacles of public leadership, now serving as prime ministers, agency heads, parliamentarians, legislators, and dozens of other key roles in 15 countries around the world.
Representing the interests of more than 550 million citizens, this powerful group demonstrates the rise of the diaspora as leaders in the political and government space.
Methodology
To compile this list, Indiaspora researched government websites and other publicly available resources to compile a comprehensive list of diaspora leaders serving in the following positions:
- Heads of government and deputy heads of government
- Ministers and agency heads serving as part of a government’s cabinet
- Ambassadors* and consuls general*
- Parliamentarians and federal legislators*
- Chief justices
- Heads of central banks
- Senior civil servants*
- Additional U.S. leaders, including federal administration nominees and appointees, and state and local leaders
*Countries with a significant history of diaspora migration were included, such as Australia, Canada, Singapore, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States.
Officers of Indian citizenship were not included because the list aims to highlight the contributions of the diaspora.
Chairman, Adani Group
Gautam Adani
Gautam Adani, is a self-made Indian industrialist who chairs the Adani Group, a multinational conglomerate. Adani’s philosophy centers on “Growth with Goodness.” He emphasizes building world-class infrastructure to propel India’s economic growth while giving back to society through philanthropic initiatives. Born in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, he is the seventh of eight children. As a teenager, Adani moved to Mumbai in 1978 to work as a diamond sorter for Mahendra Brothers. He founded the Adani Group, which initially focused on trading and exports.
The Adani Group operates in the energy, defense, and infrastructure spaces amongst others. He is currently spearheading India’s largest port infrastructure projects and making significant investments in the renewable energy sector. He envisions the Adani Group as a key driver of India’s renewable energy and defense industries.
As of May 2025, Adani is ranked as the third richest person in Asia and 25th in the world, with a net worth of $60.3 billion. In 2022, Time magazine included him in the 100 most influential people in the world. Gautam Adani is a dynamic and future-forward leader, who has seemingly devoted his group to simultaneously better the landscape of Indian infrastructure. Indiaspora is proud to have Gautam Adani on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
CEO, Flex
Revathi Advaithi
Revathi Advaithi is the Chief Executive Officer of Flex Ltd., a $26 billion global manufacturing giant and supply chain solutions provider. She assumed the role of CEO in February 2019 and is responsible for architecting the company’s strategic direction and leading Flex through a transformation that is defining a new era in manufacturing. Advaithi graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science in 1990, and earned an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in 2005. Her career began on the factory floor, where she started as a shop floor supervisor in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
In 1995, she joined Eaton, a management company in England, as the Plant Manager, holding various leadership roles there before shifting to Honeywell International in 2002. In 2019, Advaithi became the CEO of Flex, a historic achievement as one of only 24 women leading a Fortune 500 company at the time. Under her leadership, Flex has shifted its focus to end-to-end customer value chain ownership, augmenting its core contract manufacturing business. Flex has focused on integrating advancements like AI and other emerging technologies into manufacturing processes.
Advaithi has received significant recognition for her leadership. She was named to Fortune’s Most Powerful Women list in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, and was listed on the inaugural CNBC Changemakers: Women Transforming Business list in 2024, and received the prestigious ‘Global Indian of the Year’ award. Her journey from the manufacturing floor to the C-suite exemplifies her deep understanding of both operational excellence and strategic vision in the technology manufacturing sector. Indiaspora is proud to have Revathi Advaithi on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
Non Exec. Chairman, Vedanta Limited
Anil Agarwal
Anil Agarwal is the Founder and Chairman of Vedanta Limited, a global metals and mining conglomerate. Agarwal founded the Group in 1976 and has over four decades of entrepreneurial and mining experience. The company started as a cable manufacturer and went on to be listed in the London Stock Exchange in 2003.
Under his leadership, Vedanta has grown from an Indian company to a global natural resources conglomerate with operations across multiple countries. Agarwal took the company private on October, 2019. Today, Vedanta operates across zinc, lead, silver, copper, iron ore, aluminum, and oil & gas sectors, making it one of the world’s largest mining companies.
In 2025, under his leadership, the Anil Agarwal Foundation’s Nand Ghar initiative reached a major milestone—modernizing 8,044 Anganwadis across 15 Indian states, directly impacting over 320,000 children and 240,000 women with education, nutrition, healthcare, and skill‑building programs. Agarwal drew attention to the importance of meaningful job creation in reducing poverty, echoing World Bank President Ajay Banga’s three‑point strategy and stressing that work brings both income and dignity. His combined philanthropic and economic efforts showcase a powerful vision for sustainable, inclusive growth. Indiaspora is proud to have Anil Agarwal on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
CMD, Lulu Group International
M A Yussuff Ali
MA Yusuff Ali is the Founder and Chairman of LuLu Group International, which owns the LuLu Hypermarket chain worldwide. In 1975, he established the first LuLu grocery store and now the LuLu Group operates more than 200 stores worldwide. Born in Kerala, Ali he moved to Abu Dhabi at the age of 18, to join his uncle’s business, where he started working with his paternal uncle in his small trading business. With his newly acquired business knowledge, he started handling import and distribution, majorly focusing on goods for the local market.
Yusuff Ali’s entrepreneurial journey took flight when he opened his first LuLu Hypermarket in Dubai in 2000. Since then, LuLu Group has expanded to over 250 hypermarkets across the Middle East, Far East, North Africa, and India, employing over 65,000 individuals from diverse backgrounds. With an annual turnover of US$8.4 billion, LuLu Group International employs the largest number of Indian diaspora.
According to Forbes Middle East, Yusuff Ali was ranked No. 1 in Top 100 Indian business owners in the Arab World 2018. Beyond his business achievements, Yusuff Ali is also known for his philanthropic work through the Yusuff Ali Foundation. Among his notable achievements, Yusuff Ali has been awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India. His philanthropic efforts are extensive, involving significant contributions to relief in India and the Gulf region. His remarkable journey from humble beginnings in Kerala to becoming one of the most successful retail magnates in the Middle East serves as an inspiration to entrepreneurs worldwide. Indiaspora is proud to have MA Yussuf Ali on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
Chairman, Reliance Industries
Mukesh Ambani
Mukesh Ambani is one of India’s most prominent business tycoons and chairman and managing director of the Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), founded by his father, Dhirubhai Ambani. Born in the British Crown colony of Aden (present-day Yemen) into a Gujarati family, he moved to India as a child when his father started a trading business focused on spices and textiles.
After completing his graduation and gaining a degree in chemical engineering, he enrolled in Stanford University but dropped out a year later when his father insisted that he came back to India to assist him with their company. Ambani’s journey in the world of business began in 1981 when he joined forces with his father to expand Reliance Industries.
Under his leadership, Reliance Industries has become one of India’s largest conglomerates, with interests spanning petrochemicals, oil refining, telecommunications, and retail. Mukesh Ambani has been credited with creating the globe’s largest start-up petroleum refinery and has diversified the company into digital services through Jio, India’s largest telecom network.
In October 2024, Ambani was ranked 1st on the Forbes list of India’s 100 richest tycoons, with a net worth of $119.5 billion, making him Asia’s wealthiest person. He is also the first non-American on the board of Bank of America. He also owns the Mumbai Indians cricket team and has been instrumental in founding the Indian Super League football competition. The Ambani family is known for their philanthropic activities. Indiaspora is proud to have Mukesh Ambani on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
Chairman and CEO, Palo Alto Networks
Nikesh Arora
Nikesh Arora is the Chairman and CEO of Palo Alto Networks, a leading global cybersecurity company. He grew up in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Arora completed his schooling at The Air Force School, and went on to graduate from Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (presently IIT (BHU)) in Varanasi, India, with a Bachelors in Engineering in Electrical Engineering in 1989. He holds a M.S. degree in finance from Boston College and an MBA from Northeastern University. He has held the CFA designation since 1999.
After brief stints at Wipro and Deutsche Telekom, he spent ten years at Google, Inc. as a senior executive, where he was senior vice president and chief business officer, president of global sales operations and business. Before joining Palo Alto Networks in 2018, Mr. Arora served as president and chief operating officer of SoftBank Group Corp. He has been the chairman of Palo Alto Networks since June 2018.
During his tenure of four years, Nikesh has led the company through a major transformation to become the partner of choice for enterprise organizations and governments around the world. Under his leadership, the company has expanded its cloud security offerings and made strategic acquisitions to bolster its market position. Arora’s leadership philosophy centers on leveraging resources and intellectual capital to drive business expansion and technological advancements. His vision emphasizes innovation, and customer-centric solutions in cybersecurity, aiming to increase Palo Alto Networks’ market share. Indiaspora is proud to have Nikesh Arora on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
CEO, Bajaj Auto
Rajivnayan Rahulkumar Bajaj
Rajiv Nayan Rahulkumar Bajaj is the Managing Director and CEO of Bajaj Auto, India’s leading two-wheeler manufacturer. Rajiv Bajaj graduated first in class, with distinction, in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pune in 1988, and then completed his masters in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from the University of Warwick in 1991. On returning from UK, he started off at the shop floor level at Bajaj Auto where he did a three-year stint. He gained experience in the areas of Manufacturing & Supply Chain (1990-95), R+D and Engineering (1995-2000), and Marketing and Sales (2000-2005), and rose to be Managing Director of Bajaj Auto in 2005. He introduced the Pulsar range of motorcycles credited with reviving the fortunes of the ailing company.
Under his leadership, in December 2020, Bajaj Auto became the world’s most valuable two-wheeler company when it crossed a market capitalization of ₹1 trillion (US$13 billion). His leadership philosophy emphasizes lean management, continuous innovation, and a unique aspect of his strategy is the application of the scientific principles of Homeopathy to brand-building.
His transformation of Bajaj Auto from a struggling scooter manufacturer to the world’s most valuable two-wheeler company represents one of India’s most successful corporate turnarounds in the automotive industry. Rajiv’s current priority is to ensure Bajaj Auto remains at the forefront of technological advancements and sustainable mobility solutions. His forward-thinking vision and commitment to excellence, solidifies Bajaj Auto’s position as a major player in the global automotive market. Indiaspora is proud to have Rajiv Bajaj on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
MD CEO, ICICI Bank
Sandeep Bakhshi
Sandeep Bakhshi is the Managing Director and CEO of ICICI Bank, India’s second-largest private sector bank. He has held this position since October, 2018, and was recently reappointed for another three years. Bakhshi earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, and has a postgraduate degree in management from XLRI – Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur. He has been with the ICICI Group since 1986 and has handled various assignments across the group in ICICI Limited, ICICI Lombard General Insurance, ICICI Bank and ICICI Prudential Life Insurance.
Under Bakhshi’s leadership, ICICI Bank has focused on digital transformation and strategic growth. ICICI Bank is racing ahead with its well-settled strategy of reimagining banking and leveraging digital capabilities. His leadership philosophy emphasizes customer-centricity, operational efficiency, and risk management. His vision for the future involves leveraging technology to enhance customer experience and drive sustainable growth across the bank’s operations.
With nearly four decades of experience in the financial services industry, Bakhshi is recognized for his operational expertise and strategic vision in transforming ICICI Bank into a technology-driven financial institution while maintaining strong risk management practices. Indiaspora is proud to have Sandeep Bakhshi on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
CEO & MD, Boral Limited
Vik Bansal
Vik Bansal is the CEO and Managing Director of Boral Limited, one of Australia’s largest construction materials companies. He is an experienced executive and non-executive director with a career spanning over 30 years. Mr. Bansal received his Masters Business Admin degree from Deakin University and undergraduate degree from National Institute of Technology.
Before joining Boral, Vik held Chief Executive positions at InfraBuild (2021-2022) and Cleanaway (2015-2021) where he quintupled its market cap and doubled earnings, earning the TMA “Turnaround of the Year” award. Previously, Vik was the Chief Operating Officer of NYSE-listed Valmont Industries. for four and a half years. Currently, Vik is a Non-Executive Director of Brambles Ltd (ASX:BXB) and is Chair of LGI Limited (ASX:LGI), a listed clean energy company. He also serves on the Board of Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Australia (CCAA) and Sunstate Cement.
Throughout his executive career, Vik has led companies to achieve increased shareholder returns through strategic and operational improvements in a diverse range of industries. Indiaspora is proud to have Vik Bansal on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
CEO, Waters Corporation
Udit Batra
Dr. Udit Batra is the President and CEO of Waters Corporation, a leading global provider of analytical instruments and software solutions. He brings more than two decades of leadership and operational expertise in healthcare and life sciences, with a proven track record of leading multi-billion-dollar global organizations and driving results at the top of the industry. Batra received his BSE from the University of Delaware, where he is currently a member of the Chemical Engineering Advisory Council. His Ph.D. in chemical engineering was earned at Princeton in 1996. Dr. Batra started his career at Merck Research Labs in West Point, Pennsylvania as a research engineer.
Before joining Waters, he served as the CEO of MilliporeSigma, the life science tools business at Merck KGaA, and joined the Executive Board in April 2016, responsible for the Life Science business which he has led as CEO since 2014. Prior to that, Batra served in a range of leadership positions at Novartis, a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical company. In addition to leading Corporate Strategy and Global Public Health and Market Access for Vaccines and Diagnostics, he also served as president of the Australia Pharma business.
Dr. Batra currently serves as the Chairman of the Massachusetts High Technology Council and as a Board member of the Boston Chamber of Commerce and MassBio. Under his leadership, Waters continues to be a key player in the analytical instruments market, serving pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and academic research sectors globally. Indiaspora is proud to have Dr. Udit Batra on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
Co-Founder, Executive Chair, Workday
Aneel Bhusri
Aneel Bhusri is the Co-Founder and Executive Chair of Workday, a leading provider of cloud-based financial management and human capital management software. Born on February 14, 1966, in New York, United States, he has been a leader, product visionary, and innovator in the enterprise software industry for more than 25 years. He was educated at Brown University, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering, and also earned a BA in Economics from Brown University and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. His first job after college was as a corporate finance analyst at Morgan Stanley.
In 1993, Aneel joined PeopleSoft, where he held a number of leadership positions, including Senior Vice-President, responsible for product strategy, business development. He became vice chairman in 1999, responsible for product strategy and marketing. Aneel, who co-founded Workday in 2005, previously served as the company’s co-CEO from 2009–2014 with co-founder Dave Duffield, CEO from 2014–2020, and co-CEO from 2020–2024.
As Executive Chair, Aneel serves as a strategic advisor to the CEO and other members of executive management with a particular focus on innovation and the future direction of Workday’s applications and technology platform. He is also a partner at Greylock Partners, a venture capital firm, and is a Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute. Under his leadership, Workday has grown from a startup to a major enterprise software company, revolutionizing how organizations manage their human resources and financial operations through cloud-based solutions. Indiaspora is proud to have Aneel Bhusri on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
Chairman, Aditya Birla Group
Kumar Mangalam Birla
Kumar Mangalam Birla is the Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, one of the largest conglomerates in India, operating in 36 countries. Birla was raised in Mumbai and received his bachelor’s degree from H.R. College of Commerce and Economics. He became a Chartered Accountant and completed his MBA at the London Business School. He took over as Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group in 1995 at the age of 28. Under his leadership, the Aditya Birla Group has grown into a multinational conglomerate with interests in metals, cement, telecommunications, and retail. Today, the group is present in 41 countries across six continents.
Birla chaired the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Committee on Corporate Governance, which laid down key principles of corporate governance norms. He is also a strong advocate for education and philanthropy, serving as Chancellor of the Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) and supporting initiatives like the Nanhi Kali project for educating underprivileged girls. Pilani is also the former chairman of Indian Institute of Management.
Recognized globally for his leadership, Birla has received numerous awards, including the Padma Bhushan in 2023 and the Global Leadership Award from the US India Business Council. Indiaspora is proud to have Kumar Mangalam Birla on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
Global CEO, Ogilvy
Devika Bulchandani
Devika Bulchandani is the Global CEO of Ogilvy. She is responsible for all aspects of the creative network’s business which spans Advertising, PR, Consulting, Experience, and Health across more than 120 offices in 90 countries. She is the first Indian-origin person to head the New York-based British advertising agency. She was previously the Global President at the company, and was appointed CEO in September 2022. Bulchandani was born in Amritsar, India, and attended Welham Girls’ School, the all-girls boarding school in Dehradun. She then pursued English and Psychology at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, followed by a Master’s in Communications at the University of Southern California in 1991.
Before joining Ogilvy, Bulchandani was the Chief Strategy Officer, and later President, at McCann, where she held several key positions, including President of McCann New York. She was instrumental in the success of the iconic Mastercard ‘Priceless’ campaign and played a pivotal role in the creation of the Fearless Girl statue, which became a symbol of female empowerment. Bulchandani has an impressive 26-year tenure at McCann. In 2021, she joined Ogilvy as President and CEO of North America and quickly rose to her current position by 2022.
Her leadership philosophy centers on creativity, inclusivity, and impact, championing gender equality and diversity in the workplace. Her leadership has earned Ogilvy numerous accolades, including Cannes Lions Network of the Year 2024, Ad Age’s 2024 Global Agency Network of the Year and a spot on Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies list. Bulchandani envisions Ogilvy continuing to drive innovative, purpose-driven campaigns that resonate globally while fostering a culture of equity and excellence within the organization. Indiaspora is proud to have Devika Bulchandani on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
CEO, L&T Technology Services Limited (LTTS)
Amit Chadha
Amit Chadha is CEO/Managing Director at L&T Technology Services Ltd. An influential leader in the engineering services industry for over 25 years, and one of the early proponents of engineering & information technology outsourcing services from India, Amit has amassed a wealth of international experience spanning a variety of geographies and is a trusted strategic advisor to clients worldwide.
He joined LTTS in 2009, as its Business Head of Americas and was closely involved in the company’s listing on stock exchanges in 2016. Prior to his elevation, he was serving the company as deputy CEO and as a full-time board member. He was appointed CEO & MD in April 2021. Under his leadership, LTTS achieved over 62% revenue growth from FY22 to FY25, crossing ₹10,670 crore, and secured high-value deals, including a $50 million contract in sustainability.
Amit’s overall career spans over two decades in core engineering & information technology outsourcing. He has managed P&L for multiple business units, spearheaded organization-wide strategic initiatives and headed business development and relationship management activities worldwide.
Beyond his corporate responsibilities, Amit is the sole ER&D sector leader in the elite NASSCOM Executive Council (IT/ITeS), guiding NASSCOM’s industry charter, helping foster out-of-the-box innovation, and promoting Intellectual Property creation in India’s tech industry. Under his leadership, LTTS has grown to over 16,000 employees and continues to expand its global engineering services footprint. Indiaspora is proud to have Amit Chadha on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
CEO, Belden
Ashish Chand
Dr. Ashish Chand is the President and CEO of Belden Inc., a leading global supplier of network infrastructure solutions. Dr. Chand joined Belden in 2002 and most recently served as the Company’s Executive Vice President of Industrial Automation Solutions since July 2019, and Managing Director of Belden Asia Pacific from August 2017. Over the course of his tenure with Belden, he has held roles across several functions, including sales and marketing and operations in both Asia and North America. He holds his education from City University of Hong Kong and is currently based in Palo Alto. As of 2019, he had 17 years with the company, making him a seasoned executive with deep institutional knowledge
Dr. Chand has played a pivotal role in developing and executing Belden’s long-term strategy, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region where he successfully localized and optimized operations during his tenure as Managing Director. His leadership spans across multiple geographies and business functions, positioning him well to lead the company’s global network infrastructure solutions business. In Q1 2025, Belden exceeded expectations with 11% organic growth, 18% growth in the automotive market, gross margins near 40%, and a notable 80‑basis‑point EBITDA margin gain.
Under Chand’s guidance, the Board approved an expanded $415 million share‑buyback plan and $300 million in repurchase authorization, refocused capital deployment toward acquisitions and shareholder value. He also advanced innovation by presenting the Joseph C. Belden Innovation Award to InUse’s agentic AI solution, ilean, at the June 2025 Innovation Summit. Indiaspora is proud to have Ashish Chand on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
Chairman, Tata Group
Natarajan Chandrasekaran
Natarajan ”Chandra” Chandrasekaran is the Chairman of Tata Sons & Tata Group (since January 2017). In 2025, he was honoured with an honorary knighthood (Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) by King Charles III in February, recognising his role in strengthening UK–India business ties—especially through flagship brands like Jaguar Land Rover and Tetley that employ over 70,000 in the UK.
He also played a key role in Tata’s strategic expansion in India: spearheading new investments in Uttar Pradesh—such as a Global Captive Centre in Lucknow, cultural tourism projects in Ayodhya, and an Air India MRO facility—during talks with the state government in May 2025. Under his leadership, Tata Group continues to drive its “One Tata” vision, expanding into semiconductors, consumer platforms, electronics manufacturing, and aviation—most notably the acquisition and rapid transformation of Air India.
After completing his primary and secondary education in public schools, he attended the Coimbatore Institute of Technology and received a bachelor’s degree in applied sciences. He completed a master’s degree in computer engineering before beginning his career at Tata Consultancy Services. Indiaspora is proud to have N Chandrasekaran on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
CEO, ZScaler
Jay Chaudhry
Jay Chaudhry is the CEO, Chairman, and Founder of Zscaler, a leading cloud security company. He is a first-generation student and grew up in a small Indian village called Panoh in the Una district of Himachal Pradesh, in the foothills of the Himalayas. Despite these humble beginnings, earned his Bachelor of Technology in Electronics Engineering from IIT BHU Varanasi. He then obtained three master’s degrees from the University of Cincinnati in computer and electronic engineering, business administration and industrial engineering. He has completed the Executive Management Program from Harvard Business School.
Before founding Zscaler, he was a serial entrepreneur. In 1996, Jay founded and led his first company, SecureIT, the first pure-play internet security service, before it was acquired by VeriSign in 1998. He also founded and led CoreHarbor, a managed ecommerce solution, before it was acquired by USi/AT&T. Chaudhry founded Zscaler, a Zero Trust cloud security company, in 2007. The company went public on March 16, 2018, and under his leadership, Zscaler has become a major player in cybersecurity, offering cloud-based security solutions to enterprises worldwide.
Jay was selected to receive the 2025 Distinguished Leadership Award from the Committee for Economic Development for his impact in business and society. Indiaspora is proud to have Jay Chaudhry as a member, who is featured on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
Founder, CMD of Persistent Systems
Anand Deshpande
Dr. Anand Deshpande is the Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of Persistent Systems Limited, one of India’s leading technology services companies. Anand was born in Akola, Maharashtra, and was raised in the BHEL township in Bhopal as his father was an engineer at the government enterprise.
Anand holds a Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech.) with Honours (Hons.) in Computer Science and Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, and an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA. Under his leadership, Persistent Systems is a global Company with more than 23,000 employees in 18 countries. The Company is listed in BSE, NSE and is expected to cross a Billion Dollars in revenue this financial year.
With the vision of creating a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in India, he is the founding member of iSPIRT, India’s first product think tank. His journey from a small initial investment to building a multi-billion dollar global technology company is inspirational. Indiaspora is proud to have Anand Deshpande on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
President & CEO, Cadence
Anirudh Devgan
Dr. Anirudh Devgan is the President and CEO of Cadence Design Systems, a leading provider of electronic design automation (EDA) software and hardware. He was born in India and spent his childhood in New Delhi, where his father was a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi). His path to success started with a Bachelor of Technology degree in electrical engineering from IIT Delhi in 1990. Moving to the United States to attend Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania, at Carnegie Mellon he earned his Master’s Degree (1990-1991) and Ph.D (1991-1993) in electrical and computer engineering.
Anirudh’s professional journey began at IBM, where he spent over a decade working in various roles across research and management divisions. Dr. Devgan was Corporate VP and member of the executive staff at Magma. At Cadence, he was President of Cadence, before which he served as Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Digital & Signoff and System Verification groups. Prior to becoming CEO in 2021, he was President of Cadence, and has served as President and CEO of Cadence Design Systems, Inc. since December 2021, and has been a member of the Board of Directors since August 2021.
He is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading authorities in the field of electronic design automation (EDA) and is a business executive, computer scientist and IEEE Fellow. Dr. Devgan is an IEEE Fellow, has written numerous research papers, and holds 27 US patents. He has won several awards, including the prestigious Phil Kaufman Award for his extensive contributions to EDA as well as the IBM Corporate Award and IEEE McCalla Award. Under his leadership, Cadence has significantly grown its computational software and hardware portfolio, expanded into adjacent and new markets, and achieved several years of record revenue growth. He’s also a distinguished researcher, holding numerous patents and authoring groundbreaking papers in his field. This is evidenced by his 2021 IEEE/SEMI Phil Kaufman Award and his 2023 induction into the National Academy of Engineering. Indiaspora is proud to have Dr. Anirudh Devgan on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
President and CEO of Keysight Technologies
Satish Dhanasekaran
Satish C Dhanasekaran is President/CEO at Keysight Technologies Inc. a leading technology company that delivers advanced design, validation, and test solutions to help accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Since joining Agilent, Keysight’s predecessor company, in 2006, Satish has held multiple leadership roles and helped shape the company’s strategy. Dhanasekaran has been Keysight’s Chief Operating Officer since 2020, focused on growing orders, increasing annual recurring revenue and driving the company’s growth initiatives.
Dhanasekaran has a Bachelor of Engineering from Coimbatore Institute of Technology, a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Florida State University and an executive education certification from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. A dynamic executive with more than 20 years of experience in communications technology, Dhanasekaran has been instrumental in driving Keysight’s strategic initiatives and technological advancement since taking the helm as CEO. Indiaspora is proud to have Satish Dhanasekaran on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
