Salesforce.com Inc, the US cloud-based service provider, has hired Arundhati Bhattacharya, one of India’s best-known former bankers, as its India chief executive officer.
Arundhati was the first woman to lead the State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest lender that has been in operations for the last two centuries. She retired from SBI in 2017 after spending four decades in various roles.
The 64-year-old will be based in Mumbai and will join Salesforce on April 20 and will be reporting to Ulrik Nehammer, general manager APAC.She will oversee the growth strategy of the company. Arundhati will play an integral role in defining the relationship of Salesforce with the ecosystem of customers, partners, and the community.
Arundhati is currently chairman of SWIFT India, part of a global payments network. She was listed as the 25th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes.
Gavin Patterson, the President & CEO of Salesforce International, remarked Arundhati is an incredible business leader and we are delighted to welcome her to Salesforce as chairperson and CEO India. Patterson also commented that India is an important growth market for Salesforce and a world-class innovation and talent hub. The Salesforce International President and CEO also remarked the leadership of Arundhati will guide our next phase of growth, customer success, and investment in the region.
In a press statement, Arundhati said Salesforce is a company with an impressive track record in supporting the digital transformation of its customers. She added there is an incredible opportunity for future growth in India.
Rod Bourgeois, head of research in DeepDive Equity Research, said Salesforce is a powerhouse in the massive trend toward cloud-based software, and hiring Bhattacharya to run Salesforce’s India operations is a significant event. It was further added that this appointment shows the integral importance of Indian talent to Salesforce and to the overall tech sector.
