Cherian Thomas, a prominent executive and key player in the global expansion efforts of edtech giant BYJU’S, has officially resigned from his position. He is set to take on the role of CEO at Impending Inc, a notable mobile application developer based in Austin, Texas.
Thomas, who had been with BYJU’S for over six years, played an instrumental role in spearheading the company’s international initiatives. Joining as the first global employee in 2017, he is highly regarded for building the international team from the ground up. This strategic move led to significant achievements, including the successful acquisition of Osmo, an educational games maker, in early 2019 for a sum of $120 million. Notably, Thomas held the dual responsibilities of Senior Vice President of International Business at BYJU’S and CEO of Osmo since January 2022.
Completing his notice period, Thomas officially left BYJU’S last week, leaving a significant gap in the company’s leadership. Prior to his tenure at BYJU’S, Thomas had a history of successful entrepreneurial ventures. He co-founded and eventually sold Cucumbertown, a venture capital-backed startup, to Japanese conglomerate Cookpad in 2016. Moreover, he played a crucial role as one of the early employees at Zynga, a prominent player in the gaming industry.
Impending Inc, a renowned application developer, has found an experienced leader in Thomas to steer the company’s future endeavors. The Austin-based company boasts a portfolio that includes widely popular apps like “Heads Up!” for The Ellen DeGeneres Show and “Clear” for iPhone users. In his new role as CEO, Thomas aims to drive growth by focusing on product portfolio expansion, global talent pool augmentation, and overall scalability, according to a statement released by Impending Inc.
Also Read: Byju’s Office Raids and Layoffs: A Troubled Path for India’s Top Ed-Tech Startup
While Thomas’s departure marks a significant change in BYJU’S leadership, the company itself has been grappling with various challenges. The much-needed influx of fresh capital has proven elusive, leading to a decline in its valuation. Additionally, continuous layoffs have taken a toll on employee morale. The recent resignation of Deloitte Haskins & Sells, the company’s statutory auditor, and the departure of three board members—GV Ravishankar of Peak XV Partners, Vivian Wu of Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and Russell Dreisenstock of Prosus—have further added to the company’s challenges.
As BYJU’S navigates these challenges, Cherian Thomas’s departure is seen as a significant milestone not only for the company but also for the edtech industry at large. His strategic contributions to BYJU’S global expansion efforts and his new leadership role at Impending Inc are expected to shape the trajectory of both organizations in the coming months.
