Sweden-based Truecaller appoints India-born Rishit Jhunjhunwala as new CEO

Truecaller, the globally recognized caller identification app provider based in Sweden, has named Rishit Jhunjhunwala as its next chief executive officer (CEO). 

Jhunjhunwala, who is currently serving as Chief Product Officer and Managing Director for India, will officially take on the role starting January 9, 2025.

The latest appointment follows the decision by co-founders Alan Mamedi and Nami Zarringhalam to step down from their operational roles to focus on their duties as board members and strategic advisors.

Co-founders to stay as advisors

Alan Mamedi and Nami Zarringhalam, who co-founded Truecaller in 2009, will remain with the company in an advisory capacity until June 30, 2025, to ensure a smooth transition. They will continue to guide Truecaller's strategic direction while stepping back from day-to-day operations.

In a joint statement, Mamedi and Zarringhalam expressed their confidence in the company’s future, emphasizing the solid management team and supportive long-term strategy in place.

"We have a fantastic management team in whom we have immense trust, and we have a long-term strategy that everyone supports, and which has started to yield positive results. With these two pieces in place, we are convinced that the company is well positioned for future success to enable us to focus more on long-term strategy. As major shareholders, advisors, and committed board members, we look forward to wholeheartedly continuing to work on Truecaller’s strategy and other board matters," they noted.

Jhunjhunwala’s previous role at Truecaller

Rishit Jhunjhunwala has been an integral part of Truecaller since he joined the company in 2015 as Head of Product. Over the years, he played a significant role in the company’s expansion and success.

By 2020, he was promoted to Chief Product Officer and, in 2021, took on the role of Managing Director for India. Jhunjhunwala, who was born and raised in India but holds Swedish citizenship, lived and worked in Sweden between 2015 and 2022, bringing a blend of international expertise and local market insight to the table.

"Having worked closely with Alan and Nami since 2015, I know these are big shoes to fill, but I am confident to continue tirelessly working towards getting us closer to our mission to make future communication more safe and secure,” Jhunjhunwala said. 

Truecaller, which went public on Nasdaq Stockholm in 2021, has continued to assert its dominance in caller identification, particularly in emerging markets like India, which accounts for over 75% of its net sales.

Despite its success, the company faces challenges, including regulatory scrutiny and competition from telecom giants like Airtel.