Progress Software appoints Girija Kolagada as India country head

US-based Progress Software, a provider of AI-powered digital experience and infrastructure software, has appointed Girija Kolagada as Country Manager for India and Vice President of HR Business Partnering for Asia Pacific (APAC), as the company sharpens its focus on India as a core centre for AI innovation, engineering talent and long-term growth.

Progress Software, headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts, said Kolagada will lead its India operations and oversee regional human resources strategy across APAC. In her expanded role, she will be responsible for strengthening the company’s India-based Global Capability Centre (GCC) and aligning people strategy with its AI-led product and platform roadmap.

The appointment comes as Progress Software deepens its investments in India, positioning the country as a key pillar in its global operating model for AI infrastructure, application development, data connectivity and DevOps.

Kolagada has over three decades of experience across global, product-led technology organisations. She has held senior leadership roles at Progress Software and Oracle, where she led large, distributed engineering teams and drove transformation initiatives spanning technology, operations and workforce strategy. She began her career as a scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Progress Software’s India operations operate as a Global Capability Center, with offices in Hyderabad, Bengaluru and New Delhi, employing over 740 professionals. The GCC plays a critical role in the company’s global R&D, product engineering and AI innovation efforts, serving customers across multiple geographies.

The company said India has emerged as a strategic hub not only for technology development but also for leadership talent, with teams contributing to mission-critical platforms used by hundreds of thousands of enterprises globally.

Kolagada holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science from Malnad College of Engineering, Mysore University. She is also known for her work in inclusive leadership, having founded and supported initiatives focused on women’s leadership development and early-career mentoring.