The leadership transition comes two months after upGrad acquired Unacademy in an all-stock deal valued at over $200 million, as the companies consolidate their operations.
Edtech platform Unacademy has announced a leadership transition, with co-founder Gaurav Munjal moving from Chief Executive Officer to Executive Chairman and Chief Business Officer Akhilendra Kumar taking over as the company's new CEO.
The announcement was made on November 11, 2026, marking a change in Unacademy's leadership structure nearly two months after its acquisition by upGrad.
Munjal confirmed the development through a post on social media platform X, stating that he would continue to remain actively involved in the company's day-to-day operations and work closely with Kumar during the transition.
He also indicated that he would support upGrad's planned initial public offering (IPO), extending his involvement beyond Unacademy's existing operations.
Kumar, who currently serves as Unacademy's Chief Business Officer, has been associated with the company for nearly five years. His elevation places him in charge of the platform as it undergoes operational changes following its acquisition.
The leadership restructuring follows upGrad's acquisition of Unacademy in September 2026 through an all-stock transaction valued at slightly more than $200 million.
The deal represented a significant change in Unacademy's valuation, which had reached approximately $3.4 billion during the edtech investment boom in 2021.
The acquisition expanded upGrad's presence in India's online test preparation market, adding Unacademy's offerings across competitive examinations including UPSC, JEE, NEET and GATE.
It also brought Unacademy's network of educators and digital learning resources into upGrad's broader portfolio, which includes higher education, professional upskilling and study-abroad services.
At the time of the transaction, Munjal had disclosed that Unacademy generated approximately Rs 400 crore in revenue, with most of its businesses either profitable or approaching profitability.
He also stated that the company held approximately Rs 900 crore in cash.
Meanwhile, upGrad reported gross revenue of Rs 2,070 crore for FY26, representing a 7% year-on-year increase. Its total income, calculated under Indian Accounting Standards, stood at Rs 1,732 crore.
The company also reported a provisional profit of Rs 38.8 crore for the 11-month period ending February 2026.
Following the acquisition, upGrad has been working to consolidate Unacademy's operations and associated businesses.
As part of this restructuring, PrepLadder's headquarters has been relocated from Chandigarh to Bengaluru. Unacademy, PrepLadder, Airlearn and Graphy are also expected to operate from Bengaluru.
The consolidation is intended to bring the group's education technology businesses under a more centralised operational structure.
While Kumar will assume executive leadership responsibilities, Munjal's continued involvement indicates that the co-founder will remain part of the company's management and strategic decision-making.
The announcement did not specify additional changes to Unacademy's senior management team or provide a detailed timeline for completing the wider operational integration.
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