Sandeep Menon

Managing Director, India @ Workato

About

I’m a builder at heart; of teams, businesses, and institutions. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to set up, grow, and turn around complex operations across emerging markets, working with everything from scrappy startups to some of the world’s biggest multinationals. I’ve led global organisations of 2,000+ people and managed P&Ls of over $150 million as well as started multiple ventures from scratch. But the common theme throughout has been the willingness to take up & evangelise early stage technologies that I truly believed in. From open source & Linux to digital transformation and today’s AI and agentic automation solutions. Leadership comes naturally to me. I lead with empathy, fairness, and a coaching mindset and I’m glad that many colleagues from past teams still reach out for clarity of thought and guidance. Outside of work, I’m an avid outdoors enthusiast with a lifelong love for nature, wildlife and motorcycling. I speak six languages and bring global exposure from years of international experience. I’m a Chevening Scholar from the London School of Economics and a MICA business school alumnus. I sit on the boards of Higher Education, Wildlife Conservation and Healthcare NGOs. Highlights: • Built and scaled Workato India GCC and now setting up the AI Centre of Excellence. • Led a global team of 2,000+ and managed a $150M P&L at Cognizant Interactive. • Delivered 60% CAGR & turned around Novell India, taking it to India’s Top 20 IT Employers. • Pioneered IBM’s Linux business across ASEAN, building a $50M new revenue stream. • Led due diligence for a $300M+ North American M&A acquisition at Cognizant. •Served on boards & advisory roles across fintech, education, healthcare & conservation.

Country

India

City

Greater Bengaluru Area

Industry

Computer Software

Skill

People Management, India Entry & GCC setup, Executive Management, P&L Management, Business Strategy, Marketing Strategy, Sales Management, Team Building, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Leadership, Management, Thought Leadership, Sales, Business Development, Advertising, Campaign Management, Digital Transformation, Team Leadership, CEOs, CXO

Experience

Managing Director, India

Workato

2021-12 - Present · 4 yrs 10 mos

Bangalore Urban, Karnataka, India

I set up the India GCC from scratch in 2021. Onboarded a top-notch team across sales, marketing, customer success and engineering, serving customers across industries and regions. Currently setting up a top notch AI center of excellence in Hyderabad. Workato Inc. is one of the world's leading enterprise automation and AI platforms, valued at 5.7B$ in just a few years.

Advisor to the Founder

ExchangeConnect

2020-8 - Present · 6 yrs 2 mos

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Equity & capital markets has always been a private passion. I advise on product development for their Fintech platform and also review business and growth strategies for SME customers, in preparation for an IPO or large fund raises.

Co-Founder

Meetzpro Global Solutions Private Limited

2017-9 - 2020-5 · 2 yrs 9 mos

Bengaluru Area, India

An entrepreneurship venture where we created a digital platform using aggregation & automation to drive efficiency into the ecosystem of small meetings and events for corporates. Acquired key logos including Amazon, KPMG, JLL etc. in the first 2 years of operation. Then covid happened.

VP & Global Head - Cognizant Interactive

Cognizant

2013-4 - 2016-6 · 3 yrs 3 mos

Bangalore, India

Transformed a largely web dev business into a full fledged Digital Transformation Agency and took its services to market globally. Independent P&L responsibility for over 150 M$ revenue, a 2000 member+ team and global enterprise customers. Built a talented global team across digital transformation consulting, marketing, creative & design services, Ux, analytics, web development and digital campaign planning. Also led M&A efforts to acquire a large digital marketing agency in North America. Took a 300M$+ acquisition target through the full cycle of due diligence, deal making & integration planning.

Director & Country Head

Novell

2006-11 - 2011-9 · 4 yrs 11 mos

Regional leader for the Novell Corp. in India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Drove a highly successful revenue turn around for the Novell software business, driving over 60% CAGR in new business sales, moved profitability from red to green, built a strong channel partner network and arrested attrition from over 30% to almost zero. Novell India was estimated at revenues of over Rs. 300 crores (50M$) and was voted among India’s best 20 IT employers within the 2009 – 2011 period. (DQ Top200 survey)

Director - Software Sales

Novell

2005-11 - 2006-10 · 1 yr

India

Took over as head of the newly acquired SUSE Linux business line for the India region, and grew the business from scratch to over 40% of the Novell India annual revenue.

Strategy, Marketing & EBO Leader, IBM Global Services India

IBM

2004-1 - 2005-10 · 1 yr 10 mos

Led the transformation project to establish IBM Services as the No.1 player in the domestic market. Responsible for all marketing strategy, go-to-market planning and execution under the HQ led EBO investment plan.

Linux Sales Leader, ASEAN region

IBM

2001-1 - 2003-12 · 3 yrs

A greenfield responsibility to set up a new line of business for the IBM corp in the ASEAN region. Heading IBM’s Linux business division as a P&L responsibility across Singapore, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand & Vietnam. Managed a diverse team across the geo, traveled extensively and set up a 50M$ revenue stream from scratch.

Brand Manager, Unix systems

IBM

1997-11 - 2000-12 · 3 yrs 2 mos

Selected into the elite Team Blue business leadership group at IBM and tasked with turning around the struggling RS/6000 brand. Tripled market share of the brand from 1998 to 1999 and again almost doubled it by end 2000. (*IDC research data).

Advertising and Brand Management

Enterprise Nexus Communications (acquired by WPP)

1996-5 - 1997-10 · 1 yr 6 mos

Mumbai Area, India

Managed brand strategy and communication needs of a diverse client portfolio ranging from Britannia, Mahindra Holidays, Torrent Pharma, Venkys, NECC, Vikram Cement etc. Executed enduring campaigns. Additionally worked with the Director on new business development.

Education

The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

Leadership & Developmental Economics

2011 - 2011

The Govt of UK selected 12 young leaders from different sectors in India for the Chevening Gurukul fellowship in leadership, international relations and developmental economics at the London School of Economics. The programme is designed to groom global leaders and build networks for them across geographies and sectors.

The Takshashila Institution

2015 - 2015

A programme designed to understand the fundamentals of public policy, economics and governance. It enables participants to better engage in the public arena as individual leaders and active citizens.