From Shah to Nadella: Indian-origin CEOs running some of the world’s biggest companies

A growing number of Indian-origin professionals are at the helm of some of the world's largest corporations, a trend highlighted by recent appointments and long-standing leadership. These executives span industries including technology, finance, and consumer goods, reflecting the diaspora's increasing influence in global business.

Among the most prominent is Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft since 2014, who has overseen the company's expansion into cloud computing and artificial intelligence. Sundar Pichai has led Google and its parent company Alphabet since 2019, driving innovation in search, advertising, and AI. Leena Nair became CEO of Chanel in 2022, bringing experience from her previous role as Unilever's chief human resources officer.

In the financial sector, Ajay Banga served as CEO of Mastercard from 2010 to 2021 before becoming president of the World Bank in 2023. Other notable leaders include Laxman Narasimhan, who became CEO of Starbucks in 2023, and Shantanu Narayen, CEO of Adobe since 2007. The list also includes Nikesh Arora of Palo Alto Networks, Rajeev Misra of SoftBank, and Sanjay Mehrotra of Micron Technology.

The trend extends to recent appointments: Venu Venugopal took over as CEO of Boeing's services business in 2023, and Ankiti Bose co-founded and led Zilingo, a fashion e-commerce platform. These leaders often cite their Indian upbringing and education as foundational to their success, with many holding degrees from Indian Institutes of Technology or Indian Institutes of Management before pursuing advanced studies abroad.