upGrad appoints Deepesh Dhakad as Chief Product and Technology Officer

upGrad, an integrated skilling platform, has appointed Deepesh Dhakad as its Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO), effective October 2025. In this role, he will lead the company’s global product and technology functions, overseeing product development, design, and engineering across its learner and enterprise segments.

Dhakad will be responsible for defining upGrad’s product and technology roadmap with a focus on scalability and user experience. His role will also involve strengthening the company’s technology infrastructure to support its global growth and learning outcomes.

He brings nearly two decades of experience from companies such as Amazon, Flipkart, Unacademy, and Games24x7. At these organizations, he managed large teams across product, design, and analytics, developing and scaling digital platforms serving millions of users. His work has included data-led experimentation, growth strategy, and AI-driven product development.

Commenting on his appointment, Deepesh said, “As learning becomes increasingly borderless and outcome-driven, our focus will be on designing intelligent, AI-native systems that personalise learner journeys and deliver measurable results for both individuals and enterprises. For me, this is also about empowering our internal teams, across product, design, and engineering to innovate boldly, collaborate deeply, and build world-class experiences at scale.”

Amit Mehta, CHRO, upGrad, added, “Deepesh’s strong experience in building high-growth, tech-led ecosystems comes at the perfect time as we sharpen our focus on innovation. His leadership will further strengthen our ability to deliver outcome-driven learning at scale, accelerating our global strategy for the next phase of workforce skilling.”

Dhakad holds a degree from IIIT Allahabad and a management qualification from IIT Bombay’s Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management.