Edtech unicorn upGrad appoints Venkatesh Tarakkad as its CFO

Edtech unicorn upGrad has announced the appointment of Venkatesh Tarakkad as its first Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective March 1, 2024.

Tarakkad, who previously played a pivotal role at DealShare, will be stationed at upGrad's headquarters in Mumbai. His recruitment is strategic, aligning with upGrad's ambitions for a public listing within the next two years.

Tarakkad's role and responsibilities

In his new role, Tarakkad will oversee a wide array of financial strategies both domestically and internationally. He will manage investor relations, business and corporate finance, enterprise/accounting controllership, financial planning and analysis, risk management, tax, and treasury functions.

The comprehensive role aims to bolster upGrad's financial health and governance on a global scale.

Leadership and experience

Venkatesh Tarakkad brings over three decades of experience to upGrad, having held leadership positions in several prestigious organizations such as Ecom Express, TCNS Clothing, Siam Makro Thailand, Metro Cash & Carry, and Coca-Cola India.

He began his professional career at Ernst & Young in the early '90s. Tarakkad's expertise spans financial transactions, compliance, governance, automation, acquisition management, financing, and public takeovers, making him a seasoned leader for upGrad's financial journey.

Continued role of Rohit Agarwal

Rohit Agarwal, who has been leading upGrad's finance operations, will continue to play a significant role within the company. Agarwal's responsibilities will expand globally as he leads operations in regions outside of India, ensuring upGrad's financial operations remain robust across its international markets.

Commenting on his appointment, Mayank Kumar, Co-founder & MD of upGrad said, "Venkatesh is a seasoned enterprise leader, and his appointment marks a strategic leap forward in our growth journey, both in India and globally. We've laid a rock-solid business foundation so far, built and scaled our offerings, and as we strive for global leadership, his operational excellence will ensure a robust credit profile, end-to-end compliance, and transparent corporate and financial governance within the upGrad ecosystem." Venkatesh will be based out of upGrad's HQ in Mumbai.

The appointment comes at a time when upGrad is experiencing significant growth, having reported a revenue of Rs 1,194 crore in FY23, a 96% increase from the previous year. With the addition of Venkatesh Tarakkad as CFO, upGrad aims to strengthen its financial strategies and governance, supporting its continued expansion and future public listing aspirations.