Keka's Sr Director of Marketing, Barun Mallick, announces his exit

In a significant leadership move at one of India’s fastest-growing SaaS companies, Barun Mallick, Senior Director - Marketing at Keka, has announced his exit after a decade-long tenure. Over the years, he has helped shape the company’s rise into a formidable HR tech player in the mid-market and enterprise segment.

Barun joined Keka in its early years and played a defining role in the company’s journey from ground zero to a global customer base of 11,000+ organizations. He was instrumental in creating Keka’s marketing engine, spearheading inbound and marketing-led growth strategies, and building a differentiated brand narrative.

Under his leadership, Keka adopted a community-first approach, pioneering initiatives like HR Katalyst, now one of the most influential HR communities in India. Along with programs such as HR Academy, these initiatives helped reposition Keka as a trusted thought partner and knowledge hub for HR professionals, not just a software provider.

Barun’s marketing philosophy has often stood out for its clarity and originality. He strongly believes that “Positioning is not about what happened in our category; it’s about what we choose to become. It’s the brand, not the ICP.” For him, original thinking has always been non-negotiable. “Content and thought leadership are two entirely different ball games,” he often says, underscoring his focus on distinctive narratives and putting a renewed focus on the flywheel model compared to the traditional funnel strategy.

He has also emphasized that modern demand generation in SaaS still thrives on the core principles of visibility and accessibility. His teams were known to pair data with empathy, focusing deeply on market research and persona discovery.

Reflecting on his journey, Barun shared, "Keka has been a defining chapter of my career. Working alongside Vijay and a passionate team, we built something from scratch that touched thousands of organizations. As I step into my next chapter, Keka’s mission and values will always stay with me."

Vijay Yalamanchili, CEO of Keka, added, "Barun’s strategic clarity, relentless drive, and ability to think originally have left a deep imprint on Keka’s DNA. His role in shaping our community-led growth and brand strategy has been transformative. His success is inseparable from Keka’s story."

Speaking about the move, Dheeraj Pandey, VP of Sales at Keka, said, “I strongly believe that while great marketing moves hearts, great distribution demands sharp strategy. Barun’s impact has been remarkable because he brings both, the heart of a storyteller and the mind of a strategist. That balance has been central to Keka’s growth journey.

In the months ahead, Barun plans to take a short sabbatical, traveling across Northeast India. He is also authoring two books, one on marketing in the Indian SaaS zero-to-one journey, and another titled “7Ps of Life”, blending personal growth and philosophy. His future roadmap includes advising early-stage startups, mentoring growth and sales leaders, and eventually building a venture studio to nurture original ideas and purpose-driven businesses.

Barun’s departure represents a significant milestone in Keka’s growth journey, closing a chapter defined by strategic innovation & category leadership and laying a strong foundation for its next phase.