Edtech giant upGrad has appointed Rakesh Raju as the Director of Brand Marketing. In his new capacity, Raju will be tasked with devising go-to-market strategies and spearheading influential marketing campaigns to enhance the brand’s presence across both online and offline platforms. With more than 12 years of professional experience and an alumni of IIM Calcutta, Raju has successfully overseen various marketing portfolios in the FMCG and telecom sectors.

During his tenure at CavinKare, Raju started as a Senior Brand Manager, subsequently taking charge of the E-commerce business, and eventually being promoted to lead the Hair-care portfolio for the Domestic business. Prior to his stint at CavinKare, he served as a Senior Product Manager at Airtel, overseeing the Telecom and airtel money business verticals.

Expressing enthusiasm about Raju’s appointment, Ankit Khirwal, Head of Marketing at upGrad, stated, “We are thrilled to welcome Rakesh Raju to our team. His business acumen and extensive experience in steering marketing efforts for prominent brands make him an ideal fit for upGrad, particularly during a period of rapid growth. Strategic hires like this will undoubtedly contribute to maximizing campaign performance efficiencies.”

Raju, commenting on his new role, remarked, “The timing is perfect, and I am excited to join upGrad at this critical juncture. I have always admired the leadership and the brand, and now I have the opportunity to work closely with them to carve out a stronger brand identity in a competitive landscape. Driving impactful education for millions requires dedication, and I intend to leverage my skills and knowledge to bolster upGrad’s position as the ‘higher-Ed leader’ across various levels.”