NASSCOM, upGrad make top brass appointments

The National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) on Thursday announced the appointment of Rekha Menon as its chairperson for the year 2021-22.  

Menon, who is the chairperson and senior managing director of Accenture India, will take over the position at the software industry body from UB Pravin Rao, chief operating officer of Infosys.  

Menon was vice chairperson of NASSCOM in 2020-21. 

“As we cautiously navigate the pandemic, I look forward to working with the NASSCOM Executive Council and its members to drive our industry’s long term growth by augmenting India’s position as the digital talent nation for the world, driving people first innovation, and working with the government to create a conducive policy environment needed for sustainable growth,” Menon said, in a statement issued by NASSCOM. 

Additionally, Krishnan Ramanujan, president and head of business and technology services at TCS, has been appointed the vice chairperson for 2021-22.  

NASSCOM also announced the members of its new executive council for 2021-23, which includes representatives from sectors such as engineering research and development, IT services, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups.  

upGrad hires top executive for US market foray 

Mumbai headquartered online learning platform upGrad, which focuses on higher education, announced the appointment of Brian Saunders as vice president of university partnerships in the US market.  

Saunders previously served as the vice president for higher education development at Graduation Alliance in Chicago. 

As part of its expansion plans in the US market, upGrad looks to close eight university tie ups, launch 20 Ivy League certification programmes and five graduate programmes over the next 12 months, according to a statement.  

“Brian has joined his new role recently and we are thrilled to have him as a part of the upGrad family now. He holds a strong professional track record and cultural connect with the local market, which I’m confident will further help us move strongly towards achieving our mission of powering career success for every member of the global workforce as their trusted LifeLongLearning partner,” Phalgun Kompalli, co-founder of upGrad, said in the statement.  

“With him on the team, we look at closing several new partner acquisitions for degree and certificate programs in the next few months and penetrate deeper into the said territory,” Kompalli added. 

The Unilazer Venture backed company claims to have seen a spike in student enrolment, with 26% of its paid users coming from the US and Canada markets. The company also claims to be on the path to profitability as it crossed Rs 1,200 crore in annual revenue run rate for financial year 2020-21 (FY21).