The HiFives Leadership Team has seasoned business & tech leaders with global experience, domain expertise, & a strong track record in HR technology, AI, & business transformation.

Sagar Chaudhuri

CEO and Co-Founder

Sagar is the Co-Founder and CEO of HiFives. He is a serial entrepreneur with expertise in SaaS products, digital marketing and analytics.
He also co-founded a SaaS-based HR platform called Pertivo, an intelligent recruitment platform. He is involved in many start-ups and traditional businesses in advisory roles.
In the past, Sagar has worked in companies such as Genpact, Infosys and ICICI Bank in senior positions. He has an engineering degree from IIT Kharagpur and an MBA from IIM Lucknow.


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Anilkumar Kalyane

Head of Technology and Co-Founder

Anil is part of the HiFives Leadership team and is responsible for driving the technology behind HiFives.
He has 15+ years of experience in building products and platforms, working for startups such as Ace Turtle, Phablecare and Portea.
Anil is an expert in application architecture and devops, and has been responsible for scaling up several digital platforms for hyper growth.
Anil holds a Masters degree in Software Engineering from Bangalore University.


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Vathsala P

Head of Customer Success & Co-Founder

Vathsala is a Co-Founder of HiFives. At HiFives, she is responsible for driving ROI from client programs by partnering with all stakeholders.
Vathsala has 20+ years of experience in client management, program implementation, customer service and customer operations, working with companies such as BI Worldwide, Accentiv, OC Tanner, Net Carrots, and India Plaza.


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Satyaki Bhattacharya

Head of Innovation & Growth

Satyaki is part of the HiFives Leadership Team and responsible for identifying, developing, and harnessing emerging technologies, strategic initiatives, and market opportunities to drive business growth.
Satyaki has 25+ years of experience in consulting, analytics, AI, and program management working with companies such as Accenture, IBM, and Genpact. He also holds a number of patents in the field of AI and analytics.


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Jagadish Velagapudi

Co-Founder

Jagadish is a Co-Founder of HiFives. He has 27+ years of experience in the technology domain with Accenture, Wipro, Infosys and JP Morgan Chase.
He has been the Head of Internal Innovation Fund and Head of Innovation in the Silicon Valley for Wipro and Head of Technology Platform Sales at Accenture.
He was also an Advisor to Pertivo, an intelligent recruitment platform. He is extremely passionate about technology-based platforms for business.


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Murlidhar S (Murli)

Strategic Advisor

Murli is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and mentor, and a governing board member of TiE Bangalore, where he actively supports and advises early-stage founders.
He was the founder of MeritTrac Services, India’s largest skill assessment and examination company (acquired by the Manipal Education Group), and Lodestar Career Guidance.
An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow, and the National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Murli brings deep expertise across talent, education, and scale-driven entrepreneurship.


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Core Competencies of the HiFives Leadership Team

How we deliver value to our clients?

Core Competency Leadership Team Background How it helps our Clients
SaaS & Product Innovation Expertise Deep experience in building scalable SaaS platforms and digital products Ensures a modern, scalable, and continuously evolving R&R platform aligned with future workplace needs
Enterprise Technology & Architecture Strong expertise in application architecture, DevOps, and platform scalability Delivers a robust, secure, and high-performance platform capable of handling large enterprise deployments
Customer Success & ROI Orientation Decades of experience in client success, program implementation, and operations Ensures measurable ROI, high adoption, and sustained engagement from R&R programs
HR Tech & Recognition Domain Expertise Extensive experience across leading global R&R and engagement companies Enables best-practice program design aligned with industry benchmarks and proven frameworks
AI, Analytics & Innovation Leadership Expertise in AI, analytics, consulting, and patented innovations Provides intelligent insights, automation, and data-driven decision-making for HR leaders
Global Enterprise Experience Leadership backgrounds from companies like Accenture, IBM, Infosys, Genpact, and JP Morgan Brings a deep understanding of enterprise challenges, governance, and scalability requirements
Program Design & Change Management Strong experience in implementing and scaling engagement programs Ensures smooth rollout, high adoption, and long-term sustainability of R&R programs
Strategic Growth & Market Insight Leadership with experience in consulting, entrepreneurship, and growth strategy Helps clients align recognition programs with business goals like retention, productivity, and culture
Startup Agility + Enterprise Discipline Blend of startup innovation and large enterprise experience Combines speed, flexibility, and innovation with structured governance and reliability
Advisory & Scale Expertise Guidance from seasoned entrepreneurs and industry advisors Ensures long-term platform vision, stability, and ability to scale globally

The HiFives Leadership Advantage

HiFives is led by a team that blends deep HR domain expertise, enterprise SaaS experience, and AI-driven innovation. With leadership backgrounds spanning organizations such as Infosys, Genpact, IBM, Accenture, and JPMorgan, we bring a strong understanding of large-scale enterprise challenges.

The result – a platform and partnership focused on outcomes, not just features. From driving adoption and engagement to delivering measurable ROI at scale, our leadership ensures your rewards and recognition program consistently creates real business impact.

For the latest updates on HiFives, follow us on X @MyHiFives . Or follow the HiFives Leadership Team Members on LinkedIn.