upGrad has announced the appointment of Deepesh Dhakad as its Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO), marking a key leadership addition to strengthen its global technology and product vision. In this role, Dhakad will oversee a 200+ member team spanning Product Management, Technology, Design, and Analytics, focusing on advancing innovation, enriching learner and educator experiences, and scaling the company’s horizontal platform capabilities across multiple business units within the upGrad Group.
With over two decades of experience across edtech, e-commerce, and gaming, Dhakad brings a diverse leadership background in building high-impact digital products and guiding businesses toward sustainable, profitable growth. His appointment signals upGrad’s strategic commitment to product excellence, technology innovation, and global scalability as it continues to expand its footprint in the lifelong learning and workforce development ecosystem.
Before joining upGrad, Dhakad served as Vice President – Product, Design, and Analytics at Games24x7, where he led the product strategy for RummyCircle.com. During his tenure, he successfully navigated complex regulatory challenges, restoring business profitability and driving user engagement in a highly competitive market.
Prior to that, as SVP – Product & Tech at Unacademy, Dhakad spearheaded the development of AI-powered recruitment and learning products, contributing to the company’s diversification and expansion of revenue streams. His earlier experience at Amazon saw him lead key product initiatives within the App Store ecosystem, including the vernacular expansion for Amazon India, which helped the platform reach new user segments across regional markets.
Dhakad has also held leadership positions at Flipkart and GE, where he honed his expertise in scaling digital ecosystems and aligning product strategy with business transformation goals.
His appointment comes at a pivotal moment for upGrad, as the company continues to invest in platform-led innovation, personalized learning technologies, and data-driven insights to transform global education delivery. By bringing together product strategy and technological depth under unified leadership, upGrad aims to accelerate its mission of creating a seamless, outcomes-driven learning experience for professionals worldwide.
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