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 and Managing Director, Larsen & Toubro
S Narayan Subrahmanyan
N. Subrahmanyan, also known as SNS, is the Chairman and Managing Director of Larsen & Toubro (L&T), an Indian multinational conglomerate with diverse interests in engineering, construction, manufacturing, technology, and financial services. He assumed the role of Chairman and Managing Director on October 1, 2023, having previously served as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director since July 2017. Subrahmanyan began his professional journey with L&T in 1984 as a project planning engineer. Over his extensive career, he has held various leadership positions, including Deputy Managing Director & President, L&T, where he led the company’s infrastructure business to become one of the largest globally. He is recognized for his pivotal role in executing landmark projects such as the Statue of Unity, major international airports in India (Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, and Mumbai), and the Ready Mix Concrete business for the first time in India. He has also spearheaded L&T’s expansion into international geographies, including the Middle East, Africa, and ASEAN.
He holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra, a postgraduate degree in Business Management from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune, and has completed an Executive Management Programme from the London Business School. Beyond his corporate responsibilities, Subrahmanyan holds prominent positions on various industry bodies and councils. He is the honorary chairperson of the Board of Governors at the National Institute of Technology – Rourkela and was appointed Chairman of the National Safety Council (NSC) by the Ministry of Labour and Employment in February 2021 for a three-year tenure.7 He is also one of the nine founding members of the Climate Finance Leadership Initiative (CFLI) India. His contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including the “Eminent Engineer” award from the Engineering Council of India in 2024 and recognition as India’s Best CEO by Fortune magazine in 2023 and CEO of the Year by CNBC-Awaaz.
Subrahmanyan emphasizes talent development, project management, and sustainable practices, aiming to position L&T at the forefront of global engineering and construction. He continues to steer L&T towards new heights of excellence and innovation. Indiaspora is proud to have S. Narayan Subrahmanyan on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
CEO, Tubi
Anjali Sud
Anjali Sud is the Chief Executive Officer of Tubi, Fox Corporation’s leading free streaming service. She was appointed to this role in July 2024, marking a significant move for the executive previously known for her transformative leadership in the tech and media sectors. Prior to joining Tubi, Sud served as the Chief Executive Officer of Vimeo, the well-known video hosting, sharing, and services platform. During her six-year tenure as CEO, from 2017 to 2023, she successfully transitioned Vimeo from a niche video site to a comprehensive software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform, serving millions of creators and businesses worldwide. She led the company through its spin-off from IAC and subsequent public listing on the Nasdaq stock exchange in 2021.
Before her CEO role at Vimeo, Sud held various positions within the company, including General Manager and Head of Marketing. Her career also includes experience in finance and media, with roles at Amazon, Time Warner, and Sagent Advisors. Sud holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, and a M.A. from Harvard University. She has been recognized for her leadership and innovation, including being named to Fortune’s “40 Under 40” list and Adweek’s “Power 50.” Her leadership at Tubi is expected to focus on expanding the platform’s content, audience, and market presence in the competitive streaming landscape.
Sud was appointed to Harvard University’s prestigious Board of Overseers in May 2025, highlighting her influence in tech and media. She was named a CNBC Changemaker in February and received an honorary Doctorate of Science from Pace University’s Seidenberg School in May, underscoring her leadership in digital innovation. Under her continued stewardship, Tubi maintained its position as a leading FAST‑streaming service in the U.S., with Sud steering growth through ad‑supported content and tech-first strategies. Indiaspora is proud to have Anjali Sud on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
CEO, Tenet Healthcare
Saum Sutaria
Saum Sutaria, M.D., is the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Tenet Healthcare Corporation, a diversified healthcare services company. He was appointed CEO in 2021 and assumed the role of Chairman in 2023.Dr. Sutaria joined Tenet in 2019 as President and Chief Operating Officer, where he was responsible for various aspects of the company’s operations. Prior to his tenure at Tenet, he spent nearly two decades at McKinsey & Company. At McKinsey, he was a prominent leader in the healthcare and private equity practices, providing strategic, operational, and financial counsel to clients.
Before his consulting career, Dr. Sutaria held an associate clinical faculty appointment at the University of California at San Francisco, where he also completed postgraduate training with a focus on internal medicine and cardiology.
He holds a medical degree from the University of California, San Diego, and bachelor’s degrees in molecular and cellular biology and economics from the University of California, Berkeley. Looking forward, his vision for Tenet involves expanding its diversified healthcare services, improving operational efficiencies, and maintaining a strong commitment to community service and integrity. Indiaspora is proud to have Saum Sutaria on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
CEO, Asian Paints
Amit Syngle
Amit Syngle is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Asian Paints, a leading Indian multinational paint company. He was appointed to this role on April 1, 2020, and was re-appointed for a second term from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2028. Syngle has a long and distinguished career at Asian Paints, spanning over three decades. He joined the company in 1990 as a management graduate. His early career included eight years in sales, where he headed the North and Central regions of India.He has held various leadership positions across diverse functions, including Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, Business Development, and Research & Technology. Notably, he served as the General Manager – Marketing from 2001, where he played a key role in modernizing the Asian Paints brand, and later became President in 2012, overseeing Sales, Marketing, and the Research & Technology function. Prior to becoming CEO, he also served as the Chief Operating Officer for the Indian Decorative business.
Under his leadership, Asian Paints has focused on expanding beyond just paints into broader home décor categories such as furniture, lighting, fabrics, and furnishings, driven by a vision to move from “share of surface” to “share of space” in homes. He is known for fostering a culture of innovation within the company.Amit Syngle holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) degree from Panjab Engineering College and an MBA from CBM Panjab University.9 He is also a member of the Colour Marketing Group (CMG), USA.
Syngle’s vision for the future involves driving sustainable growth, focusing on eco-friendly products, and expanding Asian Paints’ global footprint, thus maintaining its status as an industry leader. Indiaspora is proud to have Amit Syngle on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
President & CEO, Arista Networks
Jayshree Ullal
Jayshree Ullal is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Arista Networks, a leading provider of cloud networking solutions for large data center and campus environments. She joined Arista in October 2008, initially as CEO and President, and has been instrumental in leading the company’s growth and success, including its highly successful initial public offering (IPO) in 2014. Under Ullal’s leadership, Arista Networks has emerged as a dominant player in high-performance, software-driven cloud networking, challenging established incumbents in the enterprise and cloud computing markets. She is widely credited with guiding Arista to deliver innovative software-defined networking (SDN) solutions and achieve significant market share.
Prior to joining Arista, Ullal spent 15 years at Cisco Systems, where she held various senior leadership positions. Most notably, she was Senior Vice President of Data Center Switching, leading Cisco’s multibillion-dollar switching business in the enterprise and data center. Before Cisco, she held positions at Crescendo Communications, Ungermann-Bass, and Fairchild Semiconductor.
Ullal holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from San Francisco State University and an M.S. in Engineering Management from Santa Clara University. She has received numerous accolades for her contributions to the technology industry, including being named to Barron’s “World’s Best CEOs” list multiple times and being recognized by Forbes as one of “America’s Richest Self-Made Women.” In 2024, she was inducted into the Silicon Valley Engineering Council Hall of Fame. She also serves on the board of directors of multiple organizations. Indiaspora is proud to have Jayshree Ullal on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
CEO, Barclays Bank
CS Venkatakrishnan
C.S. Venkatakrishnan, widely known as “Venkat,” is the Group Chief Executive Officer of Barclays, a position he has held since November 2021.Venkatakrishnan brings a wealth of experience in banking and financial services to his role, with a career spanning over three decades. Before being appointed CEO, he served as Head of Global Markets and Co-President of Barclays Bank PLC from October 2020, and prior to that, as the Group Chief Risk Officer for Barclays from 2016 to 2020.
Before joining Barclays in 2016, Venkatakrishnan had a distinguished 22-year career at JPMorgan Chase from 1994. There, he held a variety of senior roles across asset management, investment banking, and risk, including Chief Investment Officer for Global Fixed Income, overseeing approximately $200 billion in assets. Notably, he was among the first at JPMorgan to raise concerns about the “London Whale” trades in 2012, which ultimately led to significant losses for the bank.
Born in Mysore, India, Venkatakrishnan holds Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. degrees in Operations Research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He is based in London and is known for his deep understanding of global markets and risk management. He is also actively involved in various industry bodies, serving as a Board Member for the Institute of International Finance and as Chair of the Financial Services Taskforce to the Sustainable Markets Initiative, among other roles. Indiaspora is proud to have C.S. Venkatakrishnan on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
Chairman and CEO, TVS Motors
Sudarshan Venu
Sudarshan Venu, holds a Graduate Degree with Honors in the Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology from the University of Pennsylvania. He also obtained a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the School of Engineering and a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School. Mr. Venu completed his M.Sc. in International Technology Management from the Warwick Manufacturing Group attached to the University of Warwick in U.K.
Sudarshan Venu, being an automotive enthusiast, grew up amidst the roar of engines of India’s oldest factory racing team. Driven by passion, he has motorbiked in 4 continents. These experiences suit Sudarshan Venu well, as he charts the future of one of India’s leading 2-wheeler manufacturer,. Under Sudarshan Venu’s leadership, TVS Motor has already seen a turnaround in the Market Share and has been the Most Awarded Two – Wheeler Company.
Sudarshan has played a pivotal role in the international expansion of TVS Motor Company in Africa, ASEAN and Latin America. He was recognised as a GenNext leader of India Inc. by Forbes India, a leading business magazine. He is also the Managing Director of TVS Holdings Limited, the holding Company and the Chairman of TVS Credit Services Limited, NBFC arm of the group. Indiaspora is proud to have Sundarshan Venu on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
Executive Director, Co-founder and Group CEO, Olam International
Sunny Verghese
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.
CEO and Managing Director, HCLTech
C Vijaykumar
C. Vijayakumar, widely known as CVK or Vijay, is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of HCLTech (formerly HCL Technologies), a leading global technology company. Vijayakumar has been with HCLTech for nearly three decades, beginning his journey in 1994 as part of the founding startup team of Comnet, a subsidiary that merged into HCLTech. He was instrumental in designing and implementing India’s first fully automated trading network at the National Stock Exchange. Throughout his career at HCLTech, he has held various leadership positions across technology, business, and operations. Notably, he led the exponential growth of HCL’s Infrastructure Services Business as its President, a segment that significantly contributes to the company’s revenue. He also played a pivotal role in incubating and building HCLTech’s products and platforms portfolio, which has grown into a billion-dollar business.
Under his leadership as CEO and MD, Vijayakumar has spearheaded HCLTech’s strategy to leverage disruptive technologies such as digitalization, cloud, the Internet of Things, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence to drive growth. He is recognized for his focus on execution and for transforming HCLTech into one of the fastest-growing companies in its chosen markets. He has also been a strong advocate for the company’s ESG agenda.
Born in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, Vijayakumar holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering from P.S.G. College of Technology. He currently resides in New Jersey, USA. His leadership has earned him various accolades, including being rated by Business Today as the “Best CEO of the Year” in the IT/ITES Industry in 2020 and being included in the list of “Top 10 Disruptive CEOs” by industry analyst group HfS. He is a member of the World Economic Forum’s IT Governor’s Community, a Board Member of the US-India Business Council, and a UN Women HeForShe Champion. Indiaspora is proud to have C. Vijayakumar on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
CEO, Prudential Plc
Anil Wadhwani
Anil Wadhwani is the Chief Executive Officer of Prudential plc, a leading international financial services group providing life and health insurance and asset management in Asia and Africa. He was appointed to this role and joined the Board in February 2023.
Wadhwani is a highly experienced global financial services leader with over 30 years in the industry, predominantly in Asia. Prior to joining Prudential, he served as the President and CEO of Manulife’s Asia region for five years. In this role, he was credited with successfully growing and transforming Manulife’s diversified and multi-channel business, leading to significant market share gains and making it the company’s largest source of core earnings. He also has a strong track record in digital transformation, having modernized technology platforms across 13 markets in Asia during his tenure at Manulife.
Before Manulife, Wadhwani spent 25 years with Citi, holding various consumer financial services roles across Asia Pacific, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa), and the US. Anil Wadhwani holds a Master’s Degree in Management Studies from the Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from the Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics. His leadership at Prudential is focused on driving growth in its Asian and African markets, emphasizing customer-centricity, and leveraging digital innovation to expand access to health, protection, and retirement solutions. His vision for Prudential focuses on expanding its footprint in Asia and Africa, aligning with the company’s strategic pivot towards these high-growth regions. Indiaspora is proud to have Anil Wadhwani on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
CEO, Informatica
Amit Walia
Amit Walia is the Chief Executive Officer of Informatica, a global leader in enterprise cloud data management. He was appointed CEO in January 2020 and has been instrumental in driving Informatica’s significant transformation into a cloud-first, AI-powered organization. Under his leadership, Informatica successfully transitioned to a subscription-based business model, culminating in its return to the public market with a successful IPO on the NYSE in October 2021.
Walia joined Informatica in 2013 and held various key leadership positions prior to becoming CEO, including President of Products and Marketing, and Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer. In these roles, he was a key architect of the company’s product and go-to-market strategy, playing a pivotal role in expanding its leadership in areas like Master Data Management, Intelligent Cloud Services (iPaaS), Big Data Management, Data Governance, and Data Security. He also championed the development and integration of CLAIRE, Informatica’s AI engine, embedding artificial intelligence and machine learning across the data management stack.
Before his tenure at Informatica, Walia held leadership positions across a variety of functions at Symantec, Intuit, and McKinsey & Company. He began his career in India, working for Tata Group and Infosys Technologies. Amit Walia holds a Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech.) degree from the Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with honors in strategy and economics from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. He currently serves on the Board of Box Inc. and The Tech Interactive. Walia is recognized for his customer-centric approach, his focus on innovation, and his commitment to nurturing a strong corporate culture, which has earned Informatica a reputation as a leading workplace in the IT industry. Indiaspora is proud to have Amit Walia on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
Founder, CEO & Chairman, Fairfax Financial
Prem Watsa
Prem Watsa is the founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, a financial services holding company engaged in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance and investment management. Often referred to as “Canada’s Warren Buffett” due to his long-term, value-oriented investment approach, Watsa has led Fairfax since its inception in 1985. Born in Hyderabad, India, in 1950, Watsa emigrated to Canada in 1972 after earning a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. He subsequently earned an MBA from the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario.
Watsa began his career in the financial industry at the Confederation Life Insurance Company. Before founding Fairfax, he worked at GWIL Securities, where he became Vice-President of Research. In 1985, he acquired a struggling trucking and insurance company, Markel Financial, and transformed it into Fairfax Financial Holdings, building it into a multi-billion-dollar empire primarily through a decentralized structure and a focus on long-term value investing.
Under Watsa’s leadership, Fairfax has become known for its conservative investment philosophy, emphasizing capital preservation and contrarian bets, particularly during periods of market downturns. The company holds significant positions in various public and private companies globally. Watsa is also recognized for his philanthropic efforts. He serves on the board of trustees of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and is the Chancellor of the University of Waterloo. Indiaspora is proud to have Prem Watsa on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.
