MUMBAI: In a major high-level executive movement within India’s edtech sector, upGrad has announced the appointment of veteran financial strategist Mukesh Mundra as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Based out of the company’s Mumbai headquarters, Mundra will oversee the global edtech major’s entire financial architecture, corporate governance, and administrative operations.
The announcement was confirmed on May 26, 2026, with the leadership team highlighting that Mundra’s core mandate will focus on driving financial strategy, strengthening business partnerships, and scaling fiscal systems to support upGrad’s international expansion and long-term profitability roadmap.
Executive Profile: Over 26 Years of Corporate Finance Leadership
Mundra brings over two and a half decades of deep financial expertise across diverse, high-growth consumer segments, including media, telecommunications, and manufacturing:
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Immediate Past Role: He joins upGrad from JioStar, where he recently served as the Head of Finance.
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Media & Telecom Pedigree: Prior to that, Mundra spent more than eight years as the CFO at Viacom18 Media Private Limited, navigating major digital and linear broadcasting transitions.
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Early Career & Conglomerates: His extensive professional footprint includes senior leadership positions at Idea Cellular, alongside formative corporate stints at Grasim Industries (Aditya Birla Group) and the Anand Rathi Group.
Strategic Mandates and Leadership Perspectives
Mundra’s induction comes at a critical juncture as upGrad shifts its focus toward operational excellence, sustainable revenue models, and consolidating its workforce development and lifelong learning verticals worldwide.
“upGrad is at an exciting stage of growth as it continues to shape the future of lifelong learning and workforce development. The opportunity to build financially resilient and scalable systems while supporting innovation and business transformation is incredibly exciting.” — Mukesh Mundra, Incoming CFO, upGrad
Welcoming the new financial chief to the executive board, Ronnie Screwvala, Co-founder and Chairperson of upGrad, emphasized that Mundra’s extensive experience with large-scale consumer businesses will be vital to the firm’s next chapter. Screwvala noted that Mundra’s strategic grasp of governance and structural transformation will play a key role as the company sharpens its focus on global scaling and sustainable financial performance.
