Ronnie Screwvala's upGrad appoints Deepesh Dhakad as Chief Product and Technology Officer

Edtech unicorn upGrad has announced the appointment of Deepesh Dhakad as its Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO) to lead its product, design, and technology ecosystem across learner and enterprise verticals.

Dhakad, who joined last month, brings close to two decades of experience across Amazon, Flipkart, Unacademy, and Games24x7. At Unacademy, he previously served as Senior Vice President of Product and Tech, and most recently, he led product, design, and analytics at Games24x7.

“upGrad stands at a pivotal moment where technology is not just an enabler but the engine powering our next phase of growth. As learning becomes increasingly borderless and outcome-driven, our focus will be on designing intelligent, AI-native systems that personalise learner journeys and deliver measurable results for both individuals and enterprises,” said Deepesh.

“For me, this is also about empowering our internal teams, across product, design, and engineering to innovate boldly, collaborate deeply, and build world-class experiences at scale. The opportunity to shape how professionals learn, grow, and stay employable worldwide is both exciting and transformative.” 

Amit Mehta, CHRO, upGrad, added, “It’s an exciting phase for upGrad. As we expand deeper into global markets, product and technology remain the backbone of how we deliver scale, consistency, and measurable outcomes for learners and enterprises alike. Deepesh’s strong experience in building high-growth, tech-led ecosystems comes at the perfect time as we sharpen our focus on innovation. His leadership will further strengthen our ability to deliver outcome-driven learning at scale, accelerating our global strategy for the next phase of workforce skilling.”

Founded in 2015 by Ronnie Screwvala, Mayank Kumar, Phalgun Kompalli, and Ravijot Chugh, upGrad offers online and hybrid programs across consumer and enterprise segments, partnering with leading Indian and international universities.