Astera Labs ropes in former Synopsys exec to lead Indian R&D hub

Semiconductor-based connectivity solutions provider Astera Labs has inaugurated a new research and development (R&D) center in Bengaluru and has appointed former Vice President of the EDA Group in South Asia at Synopsys, Shivananda Koteshwar as Managing Director. 

Sanjay Gajendra, President and Chief Operating Officer at Astera Labs, said “Koteshwar’s expertise in the semiconductor field will be critical as we scale our operations in India to support the growing demand for our Intelligent Connectivity Platform, which is essential for artificial intelligence (AI) deployments at cloud scale.”

Koteshwar, a Bengaluru native with nearly three decades of experience, previously held senior roles at Synopsys and MediaTek, where he led regional growth strategies and innovation. At Astera Labs, he will spearhead the company’s efforts to develop next-generation connectivity solutions that support AI infrastructure.

He holds a post-graduate degree in Artificial Intelligence from India School of Business, Hyderabad; a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication from Malnad College of Engineering, Hassan and Ph.D in Management from Bangalore University. 

“Our Bengaluru site will serve as a hub for advanced product development, playing a key role in shaping the future of AI connectivity,” Koteshwar said.

The new R&D facility will function as a complete design center for silicon technology and connectivity solutions, focusing on innovations that enable large-scale AI system deployments. Astera Labs selected Bengaluru for its highly skilled semiconductor workforce and plans to collaborate with local industry and universities to enhance its engineering capabilities.