The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has appointed Archna Vyas as its India director, the organization said in an announcement on Tuesday, making her the first woman to hold the top position leading operations in one of its most prominent partnerships in the country.
Vyas will replace Hari Menon, who has been India director since 2019, to lead the operations. Menon will move into a global leadership role from 2026.
As the Gates Foundation’s National Director for India, Archna Vyas will oversee the organization’s operations and work closely with central and state governments, philanthropists, civil society, academia and the private sector. Her aim will be to advance the foundation’s priorities in India in line with the Indian government’s vision of Viksit Bharat.
The Gates Foundation has been active in India since 2003, working on issues ranging from healthcare and sanitation to gender equality, agricultural development, digital public infrastructure, education and financial empowerment. In the last two decades, India has made significant progress in improving the health and economic progress of its citizens, lifting millions of people out of poverty.
“India’s homegrown model of innovation and progress is showing the world how transformative and sustainable change can uplift millions,” the press release said.
Who is Archna Vyas?
Archna Vyas has been with the Gates Foundation since 2014 and has worked on its health and poverty alleviation programs.
Prior to this role, she served as Global Director of the Foundation’s Global Policy and Advocacy division, where she led work on growth, opportunity and empowerment.
In previous roles, Vyas led strategic policy efforts, cultivated high-impact partnerships and shaped external communications across key development priorities, including digital public infrastructure, agricultural development, sanitation, nutrition, global education and women’s economic empowerment.
“India is our most significant country partnership,” Vyas said in a statement.
“I look forward to working closely with governments, communities, philanthropists and our partners to support the Government of India’s vision to become a developed economy by 2047.”
Prior to joining the foundation, Archna Vyas led communications and digital marketing in South and Southeast Asia and supported the MENA markets for Reckitt, holding leadership positions in major marketing and advertising organizations.
Archna Vyas holds a Masters in Physics from the University of Delhi and a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from the Institute of Management Technology.
