Two key executives, including Chief Product and Technology Officer Jeyandran Venugopal and VP of Ads Sandeep Karwa, announce departures from the e-commerce giant amid ongoing organizational changes.
In a significant development that signals continued leadership changes at India’s e-commerce leader, Flipkart has announced the departure of two senior executives. Jeyandran Venugopal, the company’s Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO), and Sandeep Karwa, Vice President of the Ads platform, are stepping down from their respective roles, marking another major leadership transition for the Walmart-owned company.
Venugopal, who served over six years at Flipkart and previously spent two years at Myntra-Jabong, will transition out of his role over the next three months, according to an internal memo from CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy. Meanwhile, Karwa, who was promoted to VP of Flipkart Ads in May 2024, announced his departure via LinkedIn after a decade-long tenure with the company.
These departures hold particular significance for Tamil Nadu’s technology ecosystem, as both executives have been influential figures in the state’s tech landscape. Venugopal, an IIT Madras alumnus, has been a prominent role model for Tamil Nadu’s technology professionals and has contributed to fostering tech talent in the region.
In the internal memo, Krishnamurthy praised Venugopal’s contributions: “During his initial years with the group, he was instrumental in revamping Myntra’s platform and improving customer experience/innovation. Subsequently, at Flipkart, he has driven several emerging technology and product-led innovations, significantly enhancing our platform’s resilience, scale and architecture.”
Dr. Lakshmi Kumar, Director of the Tamil Nadu Technology Hub, commented on the developments: “These transitions at Flipkart could create new opportunities for Tamil Nadu’s tech talent pool. We’re seeing increased interest from experienced professionals in building startups or joining the state’s growing technology ecosystem.”
The departures come amid a broader pattern of senior-level exits at Flipkart over the past year, including:
- Ayyappan R, CEO at Cleartrip and SVP at Flipkart
- Amitesh Jha, SVP Category and Marketplace
- Bharath Ram, SVP Growth and Retention
- Dheeraj A, SVP Fintech and Payments
For Tamil Nadu’s startup ecosystem, these changes could present several opportunities:
- Potential for experienced leadership talent to mentor local startups
- Increased knowledge transfer as executives explore new ventures
- Possible expansion of startup activities in the e-commerce and adtech sectors
The impact on Chennai’s technology corridor could be particularly significant, as the city has been emerging as a hub for e-commerce technology development. Several startups in the region have been focusing on building solutions for online retail and digital advertising, areas where both departing executives have extensive expertise.
Industry analyst Raman Srinivasan of Chennai-based TechVantage Research notes: “We might see some of this senior talent exploring opportunities in Tamil Nadu’s growing startup ecosystem. Their experience in scaling technology platforms could be invaluable for local ventures.”
