Info Edge (India), the parent company of Naukri.com, has announced a leadership transition under which founder and Vice Chairman Sanjeev Bikhchandani will take over as Executive Vice Chairman, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer from December 3, 2026, subject to shareholder approval. Hitesh Oberoi, who currently holds the MD and CEO positions, will step down from his full-time executive role at the close of business on December 2.
Oberoi will remain associated with the company as a non-executive, non-independent director, subject to shareholder approval. The transition follows nearly 27 years of his association with Info Edge, including more than 16 years as its MD and CEO. The company operates a portfolio spanning recruitment, real estate, matrimony and education, while also investing in India’s startup ecosystem.
Key Takeaways
- Leadership change: Sanjeev Bikhchandani is set to become Executive Vice Chairman, MD and Group CEO from December 3, 2026.
- Hitesh Oberoi’s transition: Oberoi will leave his full-time executive positions on December 2 after nearly 27 years with Info Edge.
- Continued association: Oberoi is expected to remain on the board as a non-executive, non-independent director, subject to shareholder approval.
- Founder-led leadership: Bikhchandani’s expanded role brings his entrepreneurial and investment experience more directly into executive management.
- Business portfolio: Info Edge operates Naukri, 99acres, Jeevansathi, Shiksha and Jobhai, among other businesses.
- Strategic focus: AI, data, profitability, monetization and startup investments remain important areas for the company’s next phase.
What Has Info Edge Announced?
Info Edge’s board has approved the appointment of Bikhchandani as Executive Vice Chairman, Managing Director and Group CEO, effective December 3, 2026, subject to shareholder approval. He will succeed Oberoi, who will relinquish his positions as MD and CEO on December 2.
The appointment is scheduled to run until April 26, 2031, in line with Bikhchandani’s existing term as a director, subject to the required approvals.
The change is significant because it gives the founder a broader executive role across the group. Bikhchandani has been closely involved in shaping Info Edge’s businesses and investment strategy since its early years. His expanded responsibilities are expected to draw on that experience as the company continues developing its established internet platforms and managing its investment portfolio.
The company has not announced a wholesale restructuring of its businesses alongside the leadership transition. The immediate development is a change in executive leadership and the division of responsibilities between Bikhchandani and Oberoi.
Why Is Hitesh Oberoi Stepping Down?
Oberoi said he had considered the decision carefully and believed it was the right time to step back from a full-time operating role. He intends to devote more time to higher education, entrepreneurship, institution building, investing, philanthropy and his family.
His departure from executive management does not mean he is leaving Info Edge altogether. Subject to shareholder approval, he will continue as a non-executive, non-independent director from December 3. That arrangement would allow the company to retain his institutional knowledge while reducing his day-to-day operating responsibilities.
Oberoi also pointed to developments across Info Edge’s portfolio that he believes have prepared the company for its next phase.
These include Naukri’s AI and data strategy, 99acres’ position in online real estate listings, profitability at Jeevansathi and Aisle, and progress in monetizing Jobhai. He also highlighted the strength of the company’s leadership team and the growing responsibilities being assumed by experienced and newer executives.
Bikhchandani acknowledged Oberoi’s contribution, describing him as a key partner in building the business over more than 27 years. The company has similarly credited Oberoi’s execution focus and strategic direction with supporting its growth through different competitive and economic cycles.
Who Is Sanjeev Bikhchandani?
Sanjeev Bikhchandani founded Info Edge and helped build it into one of India’s prominent internet businesses. The company became widely known through Naukri.com, its recruitment platform, before expanding into other consumer internet categories.
Bikhchandani has also played an important role in the company’s investment activities. Info Edge has used capital generated by its operating businesses to invest in startups, with some portfolio companies subsequently developing into independent listed businesses.
His new responsibilities place him more directly at the centre of executive leadership across the group. His understanding of the company’s culture, operating businesses and investment portfolio is expected to be relevant as Info Edge evaluates new opportunities and allocates resources between established platforms and newer initiatives.
The appointment is not an entirely new association with executive management: Bikhchandani already serves as founder and Vice Chairman. The change expands his role to include the MD and Group CEO positions.
What Businesses Does Info Edge Operate?
Info Edge’s business portfolio extends beyond online recruitment. Its major platforms serve different segments of India’s digital economy.
| Business or platform | Primary activity |
|---|---|
| Naukri.com | Online recruitment and job listings |
| 99acres | Property listings and real estate discovery |
| Jeevansathi | Online matrimony services |
| Shiksha | Education information and student guidance |
| Jobhai | Blue-collar and frontline job search |
| Aisle | Dating and relationship services |
These businesses operate in markets with different competitive dynamics and revenue opportunities. Recruitment depends on employer hiring activity, real estate listings are linked to property-market conditions, and education and matrimony platforms rely on attracting users and converting engagement into revenue.
The group also has an investment portfolio, giving Info Edge a role beyond operating consumer internet services. That combination makes capital allocation, profitability and the development of newer business lines important considerations for its leadership.
AI and Monetization Remain Important Priorities
The leadership change comes as digital platforms increasingly use AI and data to improve user experiences, automate workflows and support business decisions.
Oberoi cited Naukri’s AI and data strategy as one of the developments in place ahead of his transition. For a recruitment platform, AI can support areas such as job matching, candidate discovery and recruiter productivity. The commercial outcome will depend on implementation, customer adoption and the value these tools deliver.
Other businesses face different priorities. For 99acres, improving listings, discovery and customer conversion can influence its competitive position. For Jobhai, monetization is important as the platform develops its business model. At Jeevansathi and Aisle, profitability and user engagement are relevant to sustainable growth.
Bikhchandani’s expanded role places these operating priorities alongside the group’s investment decisions. However, Info Edge has not announced specific new targets or a detailed strategic overhaul as part of the leadership transition.
What the Transition Means for Info Edge
The change combines new executive responsibility for the founder with continued board-level involvement from the outgoing CEO. That structure could help preserve continuity while shifting day-to-day leadership responsibilities.
Oberoi’s nearly three decades at the company include more than 16 years as MD and CEO. According to the company’s announcement, Info Edge’s market capitalization increased from approximately ₹2,500 crore to around ₹80,000 crore during his tenure as CEO. The company also expanded its portfolio of internet businesses and developed its role as an investor in India’s startup ecosystem.
Those figures provide context for the transition, but they do not guarantee future performance. Info Edge will continue to face competition across recruitment, real estate, matrimony and other online services, along with changing customer expectations and technology trends.
Investors will likely watch how the leadership change affects strategic priorities, operating performance and capital allocation. The company has not attributed the transition to a specific financial problem or announced that its existing business strategy is being replaced.
The Bigger Picture
Info Edge’s leadership transition highlights the challenge of managing a diversified internet company as its businesses mature and new technology changes the way customers use digital platforms. Recruitment, property discovery and other online services increasingly compete on data, user experience and the ability to turn engagement into sustainable revenue.
Bikhchandani’s expanded executive role brings the founder’s long-term perspective more directly into management, while Oberoi’s proposed continued presence on the board offers a measure of continuity. The effectiveness of the arrangement will ultimately depend on execution, the strength of the management team and the performance of individual businesses.
FAQs
1. Who will become the new MD and CEO of Info Edge?
Founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani is set to become Executive Vice Chairman, Managing Director and Group CEO from December 3, 2026, subject to shareholder approval.
2. Why is Hitesh Oberoi stepping down?
Oberoi said he wants to step back from his full-time operating role to focus more on education, entrepreneurship, institution building, investing, philanthropy and his family.
3. Is Hitesh Oberoi leaving Info Edge completely?
No. He is expected to continue as a non-executive, non-independent director from December 3, subject to shareholder approval.
4. Which companies and platforms are owned or operated by Info Edge?
Its businesses include Naukri.com, 99acres, Jeevansathi, Shiksha, Jobhai and Aisle. Info Edge also invests in startups.
5. Will the leadership change alter Info Edge’s business strategy?
The company has not announced a wholesale strategy change alongside the appointments. AI and data at Naukri, monetization, profitability and the group’s investment portfolio remain relevant areas to watch.
Looking Ahead
The next milestone is the planned leadership handover on December 3, 2026, subject to shareholder approval. Investors will be watching for further announcements about management responsibilities, strategic priorities and the performance of Info Edge’s operating businesses as Bikhchandani takes on the expanded role.
The longer-term test will be whether the company can sustain growth across its established platforms while developing new revenue opportunities and allocating capital effectively. The transition marks a change in executive leadership, but Info Edge’s results will continue to depend on competition, market conditions, customer demand and the execution of its business plans.
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