Sandeep Menon — CEO

I’m a builder at heart; of teams, businesses, and institutions. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to set up, grow, and turn around complex operations across emerging markets, working with everything from scrappy startups to some of the world’s biggest multinationals. I’ve led global organisations of 2,000+ people and managed P&Ls of over $150 million as well as started multiple ventures from scratch. But the common theme throughout has been the willingness to take up & evangelise early stage technologies that I truly believed in. From open source & Linux to digital transformation and today’s AI and agentic automation solutions. Leadership comes naturally to me. I lead with empathy, fairness, and a coaching mindset and I’m glad that many colleagues from past teams still reach out for clarity of thought and guidance. Outside of work, I’m an avid outdoors enthusiast with a lifelong love for nature, wildlife and motorcycling. I speak six languages and bring global exposure from years of international experience. I’m a Chevening Scholar from the London School of Economics and a MICA business school alumnus. I sit on the boards of Higher Education, Wildlife Conservation and Healthcare NGOs. Highlights: • Built and scaled Workato India GCC and now setting up the AI Centre of Excellence. • Led a global team of 2,000+ and managed a $150M P&L at Cognizant Interactive. • Delivered 60% CAGR & turned around Novell India, taking it to India’s Top 20 IT Employers. • Pioneered IBM’s Linux business across ASEAN, building a $50M new revenue stream. • Led due diligence for a $300M+ North American M&A acquisition at Cognizant. •Served on boards & advisory roles across fintech, education, healthcare & conservation.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a SaaS and IT transformation leader with extensive experience in scaling operations and driving digital innovation.

Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Experience: 25 yrs 1 mo

Skills

Leadership
Business Strategy
Digital Transformation
Business Growth Strategies
Sales Management
Business Development
Marketing Strategy
Brand Management
Advertising

Career Highlights

Built and scaled Workato India GCC.
Led a global team of 2,000+ at Cognizant.
Pioneered IBM’s Linux business across ASEAN.

Work Experience

Workato

Managing Director, India (4 yrs 4 mos)

ExchangeConnect

Advisor to the Founder (5 yrs 8 mos)

Meetzpro Global Solutions Private Limited

Co-Founder (2 yrs 8 mos)

Cognizant Technology Solutions

VP & Global Head - Cognizant Interactive (3 yrs 2 mos)

Novell

Director & Country Head (4 yrs 10 mos)

Director - Software Sales (11 mos)

IBM India Ltd

Strategy, Marketing & EBO Leader, IBM Global Services India (1 yr 9 mos)

Linux Sales Leader, ASEAN region (2 yrs 11 mos)

Brand Manager, Unix systems (3 yrs 1 mo)

Enterprise Nexus Communications (acquired by WPP)

Advertising and Brand Management (1 yr 5 mos)

Education

Chevening Gurukul Fellowship at The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

Graduate Certificate Programme in Public Policy at The Takshashila Institution

MBA (PGDPC) at MICA | The School of Ideas

B.Sc. at Loyola College

Sandeep Menon

CEO

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India25 yrs 1 mo experience

Most Likely To SwitchHighly Stable

Key Highlights

Built and scaled Workato India GCC.
Led a global team of 2,000+ at Cognizant.
Pioneered IBM’s Linux business across ASEAN.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a SaaS and IT transformation leader with extensive experience in scaling operations and driving digital innovation.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

LeadershipBusiness StrategyDigital TransformationBusiness Growth StrategiesSales ManagementBusiness DevelopmentMarketing StrategyBrand ManagementAdvertising

Other Skills

People ManagementIndia Entry & GCC setupExecutive ManagementP&L ManagementTeam BuildingChannel Partner ManagementGo-to-Market PlanningMarket StrategyMarketing ManagementThought LeadershipSales OperationsCross Functional Team Building

About

Experience

Workato

Managing Director, India

Dec 2021 – Present · 4 yrs 4 mos · Bangalore Urban, Karnataka, India

I set up the India GCC from scratch in 2021. Onboarded a top-notch team across sales, marketing, customer success and engineering, serving customers across industries and regions. Currently setting up a top notch AI center of excellence in Hyderabad.
Workato Inc. is one of the world's leading enterprise automation and AI platforms, valued at 5.7B$ in just a few years.

People ManagementIndia Entry & GCC setupExecutive ManagementBusiness StrategyDigital TransformationLeadership

Exchangeconnect

Advisor to the Founder

Aug 2020 – Present · 5 yrs 8 mos · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Equity & capital markets has always been a private passion. I advise on product development for their Fintech platform and also review business and growth strategies for SME customers, in preparation for an IPO or large fund raises.

Meetzpro global solutions private limited

Co-Founder

Sep 2017 – May 2020 · 2 yrs 8 mos · Bengaluru Area, India

An entrepreneurship venture where we created a digital platform using aggregation & automation to drive efficiency into the ecosystem of small meetings and events for corporates. Acquired key logos including Amazon, KPMG, JLL etc. in the first 2 years of operation. Then covid happened.

Cognizant technology solutions

VP & Global Head - Cognizant Interactive

Apr 2013 – Jun 2016 · 3 yrs 2 mos · Bangalore, India

Transformed a largely web dev business into a full fledged Digital Transformation Agency and took its services to market globally. Independent P&L responsibility for over 150 M$ revenue, a 2000 member+ team and global enterprise customers.
Built a talented global team across digital transformation consulting, marketing, creative & design services, Ux, analytics, web development and digital campaign planning.
Also led M&A efforts to acquire a large digital marketing agency in North America. Took a 300M$+ acquisition target through the full cycle of due diligence, deal making & integration planning.

P&L ManagementDigital TransformationTeam BuildingLeadership

Novell

2 roles

Director & Country Head

Promoted

Nov 2006 – Sep 2011 · 4 yrs 10 mos

Regional leader for the Novell Corp. in India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Drove a highly successful revenue turn around for the Novell software business, driving over 60% CAGR in new business sales, moved profitability from red to green, built a strong channel partner network and arrested attrition from over 30% to almost zero.
Novell India was estimated at revenues of over Rs. 300 crores (50M$) and was voted among India’s best 20 IT employers within the 2009 – 2011 period. (DQ Top200 survey)

Business StrategySales ManagementChannel Partner ManagementBusiness Growth StrategiesLeadership

Director - Software Sales

Nov 2005 – Oct 2006 · 11 mos

Took over as head of the newly acquired SUSE Linux business line for the India region, and grew the business from scratch to over 40% of the Novell India annual revenue.

Sales ManagementBusiness Development

Ibm india ltd

3 roles

Strategy, Marketing & EBO Leader, IBM Global Services India

Jan 2004 – Oct 2005 · 1 yr 9 mos

Led the transformation project to establish IBM Services as the No.1 player in the domestic market. Responsible for all marketing strategy, go-to-market planning and execution under the HQ led EBO investment plan.

Marketing StrategyGo-to-Market PlanningLeadership

Linux Sales Leader, ASEAN region

Promoted

Jan 2001 – Dec 2003 · 2 yrs 11 mos

A greenfield responsibility to set up a new line of business for the IBM corp in the ASEAN region. Heading IBM’s Linux business division as a P&L responsibility across Singapore, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand & Vietnam.
Managed a diverse team across the geo, traveled extensively and set up a 50M$ revenue stream from scratch.

Brand ManagementMarket StrategyMarketing Strategy

Brand Manager, Unix systems

Nov 1997 – Dec 2000 · 3 yrs 1 mo

Selected into the elite Team Blue business leadership group at IBM and tasked with turning around the struggling RS/6000 brand. Tripled market share of the brand from 1998 to 1999 and again almost doubled it by end 2000. (*IDC research data).

AdvertisingBrand Management

Enterprise nexus communications (acquired by wpp)

Advertising and Brand Management

May 1996 – Oct 1997 · 1 yr 5 mos · Mumbai Area, India

Managed brand strategy and communication needs of a diverse client portfolio ranging from Britannia, Mahindra Holidays, Torrent Pharma, Venkys, NECC, Vikram Cement etc. Executed enduring campaigns. Additionally worked with the Director on new business development.