Zoho Corp’s founder, Sridhar Vembu, has announced his decision to step down as the CEO of the company to focus on research and development initiatives. Known for his commitment to sustainable development and empowering rural economies, Vembu shared the news on X, emphasizing his dedication to advancing the company’s technological capabilities and his personal mission for rural development.

In his statement, Vembu said, “A new chapter begins today. Given the challenges and opportunities ahead, especially with the rapid advancements in AI, it has been decided that my focus should shift entirely to R&D initiatives while also pursuing my rural development mission.”

As part of this leadership transition, co-founder Shailesh Kumar Davey has been appointed the new group CEO of Zoho Corp. Additionally, co-founder Tony Thomas will lead Zoho US, Rajesh Ganesan will head the Manage Engine division, and Mani Vembu will take charge of the Zoho.com division.

Expressing enthusiasm for his new role, Vembu remarked, “The future of our company hinges on how effectively we address the R&D challenges ahead. I am thrilled to take on this assignment and return to hands-on technical work with renewed energy.”

This strategic move reflects Zoho Corp’s focus on innovation and underscores Vembu’s commitment to shaping the company’s growth through groundbreaking research and development.