Unacademy elevates Abhishek Pipara to the role of Chief Financial Officer for offline centres business

Bengaluru-based edtech unicorn Unacademy has elevated Abhishek Pipara to the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for its offline centres business, Unacademy Centres, according to an internal memo shared by the company’s CEO, Gaurav Munjal. 

Pipara, who has been with Unacademy for over six years, will succeed Pratik Dalal, who joined the company from Kunal Shah-led CRED in January this year. 

The appointment marks another strategic shift as the company looks to enhance the performance of its physical learning centres.

Pipara’s role and responsibilities

In his new role, Pipara will focus on driving financial efficiency, improving unit economics, and ensuring profitability at the Centre level. His leadership is expected to help Unacademy Centres scale operations more effectively. 

Pipara’s work will also play a key role in maintaining profitability and financial discipline as Unacademy expands its hybrid learning approach post-pandemic.

Gaurav Munjal shares note

“I’m excited to announce that Abhishek Pipara, who has been with Unacademy for over 6 years, is being elevated to the role of CFO for Unacademy Centres. Abhishek has been an instrumental part of our journey, driving financial efficiency and strategic growth. With his leadership, I’m confident we will continue to scale and excel as we move forward,” Munjal wrote on the company’s Slack channel.

Experience and background

Pipara, a Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary, has over 16 years of extensive experience in finance and strategy. Before joining Unacademy, he held significant roles in various startups and firms, such as Little App, Zovi, and Deloitte. 

At Unacademy, he previously served as Vice President of Finance, contributing to the company’s financial stability and helping to streamline operations. His strong background is seen as essential for ensuring that Unacademy’s offline centres, which focus on competitive exam preparations like IIT JEE, NEET, UPSC, and CAT, meet their financial and operational goals.

Unacademy’s offline push

Unacademy Centres is a major part of the company’s strategy to combine online and offline education. These centres offer students personalized coaching, structured courses, and access to dedicated mentors, providing a blended learning experience.

As the edtech sector faces increasing competition and pressure to manage costs, this offline initiative is seen as crucial for Unacademy’s growth. 

The company operates centres across nearly 40 cities, with a network of over 91,000 educators and 99 million registered learners.