30 Years of Independent Growth: Zoho and ManageEngine Lead with Culture and Innovation
ManageEngine hosted a delegation of international journalists at its headquarters in India, offering an exclusive glimpse into the company’s technology vision, global expansion, and unique corporate culture. Senior executives from ManageEngine and parent company Zoho Corporation shared their long-term strategy and insights into driving digital transformation across markets worldwide, including Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.
The visit highlighted ManageEngine’s core philosophy: independence, sustained investment in research and development, and a long-term approach that puts customer trust ahead of short-term financial gains.
Journalists explored ManageEngine City, experienced India’s vibrant culture, and attended keynote presentations by Rajesh Ganesan, CEO of ManageEngine, and Shailesh Davey, CEO of Zoho Corporation, offering a first-hand view of how the company has grown independently into a global software leader over nearly three decades.
Culture and Independence at the Core
Opening the session, Rajesh Ganesan, CEO of ManageEngine, emphasized that understanding the company requires looking beyond its offices and products. “To truly understand India, and ManageEngine, you need to step outside the campus,” he told attending journalists, including representatives from Riyadh Daily. “Visit our neighborhoods, our temples, and experience everyday life. That is where our values come from.”
Ganesan explained that this cultural grounding shapes the company’s approach to technology: staying close to real customer needs rather than operating with a distant corporate mindset. He also stressed the importance of independence. ManageEngine, along with its parent Zoho Corporation, has remained privately held, self-funded, and acquisition-free since inception. “That independence allows us to think long term, invest deeply in R&D, and stay rooted in India while serving customers globally,” he said.
A 30-Year Journey from Local Roots to Global Scale
Tracing his journey from joining the company as an intern in 1997 to leading it today, Ganesan highlighted continuous reinvention and a focus on simplicity. The launch of OpManager in 2003 marked the beginning of ManageEngine’s global presence, offering affordable and easy-to-deploy IT management tools.
“Since then, our mission has been consistent: ensuring technology is reliable, secure, and adds real business value,” he said. Today, ManageEngine serves over 90,000 customers across 190 countries, including organizations in the Middle East and North Africa, supported by more than 6,000 employees and 300 channel partners.
IT as a Strategic Driver in the AI Era
Ganesan noted that IT has evolved from a support function into a central driver of business growth, cybersecurity, and customer experience. “Our role now is to help organizations become future-ready,” he explained. On AI, he emphasized responsible integration: “Future-proofing isn’t about chasing hype. It’s about building resilient systems, applying AI responsibly, and maintaining control over data, security, and compliance.”
Zoho’s Philosophy: Patience, Engineering, and Long-Term Thinking
Shailesh Davey, CEO of Zoho Corporation, framed ManageEngine’s story within Zoho’s broader strategy as an independent global technology company. “Zoho was built patiently over 30 years, focusing on what customers truly need rather than short-term investor expectations,” he said. Zoho operates two core brands; Zoho, focused on cloud-based business applications, and ManageEngine, delivering IT management solutions, each contributing roughly half of the group’s revenue.
Davey underscored the company’s long-term approach: reinvesting profits into research and development rather than heavy marketing, fully owning its technology stack, and maintaining stable pricing and reliability. He highlighted that in the early years, Zoho reinvested most of its revenue approximately $350,000 in 1997 into R&D, sometimes allocating up to 80% of total revenues to developing products and technology infrastructure. “Customer data is never sold or shared. Privacy is not a feature for us, it’s a core principle,” he added.
He also highlighted Zoho’s global expansion strategy, which combines international reach with local execution. With nearly 30 offices and 20 data centers worldwide, including a strong presence in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt, Zoho and ManageEngine aim to support regional organizations through direct relationships, scalable technology, and responsible innovation.
A Blend of Technology, Culture, and Community
The day concluded with traditional Indian cultural performances inside ManageEngine City, reflecting the company’s belief that technology, culture, and community are inseparable. The presentations reinforced a clear message to international media: world-class, sustainable technology can be built from India, independently, without compromising values, privacy, or long-term vision.
