From Microsoft to WhatsApp: Meet the Indian-origin CEOs running the world's biggest companies

Several of the world's largest technology companies are currently led by chief executives of Indian origin. These leaders have risen to the top positions at firms including Microsoft, Google, and WhatsApp, reflecting the growing influence of the Indian diaspora in global business.

Satya Nadella became the chief executive officer of Microsoft in 2014, succeeding Steve Ballmer. Under his leadership, the company has expanded its cloud computing and artificial intelligence businesses. Sundar Pichai was appointed CEO of Google in 2015 and later became the CEO of Alphabet, Google's parent company, in 2019.

Will Cathcart, who was born to Indian parents, serves as the head of WhatsApp, the messaging platform owned by Meta. Other notable Indian-origin CEOs include Leena Nair, who became the CEO of Chanel in 2022, and Nikesh Arora, the CEO of Palo Alto Networks.

The rise of Indian-origin executives to the helm of major corporations has been attributed to a strong emphasis on education and technical skills within the community. Many of these leaders hold advanced degrees from prestigious institutions in India and abroad, and have worked their way up through the ranks of their respective companies.