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

Global technology firm Zoho Corporation CEO Sridhar Vembu has stepped down from the post to focus on the company’s research and development initiatives as its Chief Scientist.

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

“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,” Mr. Vembu said in a post on micro-blogging site X (formerly Twitter) on Monday (January 27, 2025).

While Vembu started his note with “A new chapter begins today”, the exact timeline for the switch was not made clear.

Co-founder Tony Thomas will lead Zoho US, Rajesh Ganesan will pilot Zoho Corp’s ManageEngine division, and Mani Vembu will head the Zoho.com division, he wrote.

“The future of our company entirely depends on how well we navigate the R&D challenge and I am looking forward to my new assignment with energy and vigor. I am also very happy to get back to hands-on technical work,” he said.

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

Zoho Chief Executive Officer Sridhar Vembu reacted to FIITJEE’s latest advertisement which drew heavy criticism for its unethical tactics. The print ad used a student’s image to suggest declining performance after leaving their institute. It further stooped to fear-mongering by associating a competitor with student suicides and using inflammatory language like “evil.” Mr Vembu reposted the ad and said that the country needs to get out of the “ultra-competitive exam pressure” on students and young adults. He added that his company has “pledged to not even consider academic credentials” as an employer.

“India has to get out of this ultra-competitive exam pressure on children and young adults. This is one area where I would *not* learn from East Asia but instead learn from Finland which has a superb state-funded educational system that serves every child without such competitive insanity,” Mr Vembu wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

India has to get out of this ultra-competitive exam pressure on children and young adults. This is one area where I would *not* learn from East Asia but instead learn from Finland which has a superb state-funded educational system that serves every child without such competitive… https://t.co/AjdkIl0Nmt

— Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) March 17, 2024

The Zoho Chief slammed the competitive exam culture and said that pressure at a young age “destroys talent and creates zombified adults.” He added, “It is the rat race to extinction. Intense competition is for companies serving a market and for sports, not for children in education.”

He continued, “As an employer, we have pledged to not even consider academic credentials. We are also investing in educational alternatives that are inspired by Finland.”

Since being shared, the post has amassed over two lakh views and three thousand likes. Several people also took to the comments section to share their views on the same.

“Another important thing to learn from Finland is the medium of instruction. Most schools teach in Finnish language. Mother tongue based education has played a key role in their education success,” said a user.

Another user wrote, “We need more such voices!”

“Amongst all the things that need a revamp, Indian educational system tops the list,” remarked a user.

A user mentioned, “All this is due to the fact that most of our parents before social media age didn’t have vision beyond government exams or competitive exams. But as we grow old and become parents people will surely get more options to explore.”

“We should be fostering creativity, resilience, and removing the ‘do or die exams’ culture! Success is a marathon, and pursuing it with joy is doable!” expressed a person.