Sudheesh Venkatesh
Sudheesh leads the mandate to effectively communicate the work of the Azim Premji Foundation, amplifying the impact of its three operating units — Field, Philanthropy, and University. He also oversees the Foundation’s publications.
Previously, he served as the Chief People Officer at the Foundation (2010–2020). Before joining the Foundation, he held leadership roles at Tesco, heading its Shared Services for People & Payroll in the UK and serving as Head of Human Resources in India.
Sudheesh began his career at Asian Paints, where he established the training function, and later undertook an assignment on ‘Organisation and Strategy’ with Booz Allen & Hamilton (now part of PwC).
An active contributor to the HR and education ecosystem, he was Regional President of the National HRD Network (NHRDN) from 2019–2021 and served three terms on its National Board. He also co-edited the NHRD journal on Education, Employability, and Employment, and is a frequent speaker and writer on education, people, and policy issues.
Sudheesh holds a bachelor’s degree in Electronics & Communication Engineering and a postgraduate degree in Management from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIMC).
His personal interests include fitness and Vedic recitation.
