Gopal Devanahalli has been appointed as President, Skilling at Wadhwani Foundation, a global non-profit organization focused on job creation. In his new role, Devanahalli will lead the foundation’s global skilling initiatives, leveraging his extensive experience across multiple industries to drive impactful programs aimed at fostering workforce readiness and economic growth.
With over three decades of leadership experience, Devanahalli brings a wealth of expertise across IT services, software products, business process outsourcing (BPO), healthcare, education, telecom, and consumer industries. Before joining Wadhwani Foundation, he served as Group President – Strategy & Business Development at Manipal Education & Medical Group, where he played a key role in shaping strategic business initiatives. Prior to that, he held leadership roles including Chief Executive Officer at Manipal Education Americas and MeritTrac Services. Additionally, he served as an Independent Board Member at Infosys BPM, where he chaired the Audit and NRC committees.
Devanahalli expressed his enthusiasm for his new role, stating, “In today’s rapidly evolving job market, skilling is a critical enabler of economic growth. I look forward to collaborating with stakeholders globally to drive impactful skilling programs and create meaningful opportunities.”
An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, Devanahalli holds a postgraduate diploma in management and an MSc (Tech) in computer science from BITS, Pilani. He has also completed the Corporate Director Certificate from Harvard Business School, further strengthening his credentials in corporate governance and strategic leadership.
Ajay Kela, President and CEO of Wadhwani Foundation, will continue to lead the Wadhwani Innovation Network and its Centers of Excellence, while Devanahalli will focus on advancing the foundation’s skilling initiatives, ensuring that individuals across industries are equipped with the skills needed to thrive in the ever-changing global economy.