upGrad Appoints Venkatesh Tarakkad as First CFO, Aims for Growth

upGrad, the upskilling and higher edtech unicorn, appoints Venkatesh Tarakkad as its first Chief Financial Officer (CFO) on March 1. 

Tarakkad, formerly of DealShare, brings extensive experience in finance, inventory, and strategic initiatives to his new role. 

Mayank Kumar, co-founder and managing director of upGrad, emphasizes Tarakkad’s strategic importance, stating, “Venkatesh is a seasoned enterprise leader, and his appointment marks a strategic leap forward in our growth journey.” 

Tarakkad’s responsibilities include overseeing upGrad’s domestic and global financial strategies. Tarakkad will be based in Mumbai, upGrad’s headquarters, and his role encompasses various areas such as investor relations, business finance, and risk management. Rohit Agarwal, who previously led finance operations, will continue his role with expanded global responsibilities. Tarakkad’s extensive leadership experience spans brands such as Ecom Express, TCNS Clothing, and Coca-Cola India.