Gaurav Munjal quits as Unacademy CEO

Unacademy co-founder Gaurav Munjal announced on Wednesday that he is stepping down as chief executive officer. He handed over the top leadership role to Akhilendra Kumar as the edtech company enters its next growth phase.

Munjal revealed this major leadership transition through a post on the social media platform X. He stated that he will transition from his current role to become the company’s Executive Chairman. Meanwhile, Kumar will immediately assume the responsibilities of the new chief executive officer.

Despite relinquishing the CEO title, Munjal clarified that he is not exiting the company’s daily functioning. He emphasized that he will remain fully involved in everyday operations alongside the incoming chief executive. Furthermore, Munjal confirmed that he will actively assist with the proposed initial public offering of parent company upGrad.

In his public statement, Munjal praised Kumar as one of the sharpest operators in the industry. He expressed strong confidence in Kumar’s ability to steer Unacademy through its upcoming corporate chapter. Munjal reassured stakeholders by stating, “I’m not going anywhere,” and concluded his message on an optimistic note, saying, “The best is still ahead.”

This executive reshuffle occurs slightly over two months after Ronnie Screwvala-led upGrad finalized its acquisition of Unacademy in September 2026. That landmark all-stock transaction valued the Bengaluru-based edtech firm at just over $200 million.

The acquisition valuation represented a steep 94 per cent drop from Unacademy’s peak valuation of $3.4 billion in 2021. Under the terms of the September deal, Unacademy shareholders received equity shares in upGrad. Despite the ownership change, Unacademy retained all its existing brands and core businesses under the new corporate structure.