New Delhi: The Gates Foundation has announced the appointment of Archna Vyas as its Country Director for India. In her new role, Vyas will lead the foundation’s work in close collaboration with central and state governments, philanthropists, civil society, academia, and the private sector to advance its priorities in India, aligned with the Government of India’s vision of Viksit Bharat.
The Gates Foundation has worked in India since 2003, partnering with the Indian government and a wide ecosystem of stakeholders across healthcare, sanitation, gender equality, agricultural development, digital public infrastructure, education, and financial empowerment. Over the past two decades, these collaborations have contributed to significant progress in health and economic outcomes, helping lift millions out of poverty and positioning India as a globally relevant model of innovation-led development.
Prior to this appointment, Vyas served as Global Director for the foundation’s Global Policy and Advocacy division, where she led work across Growth, Opportunity and Empowerment. She brings deep experience across both country-level and global engagements, driving strategic policy initiatives, building high-impact partnerships, and shaping external communications across development priorities including digital public infrastructure, agriculture, sanitation, nutrition, global education, and women’s economic empowerment. Vyas joined the Gates Foundation in 2014 and has worked across its health and poverty alleviation portfolio to drive impact in India.
Before joining the foundation, Vyas led communications and digital marketing across South and Southeast Asia and supported markets in the Middle East and North Africa for Reckitt. She has also held senior roles in leading marketing and advertising organisations. She holds a master’s degree in physics from the University of Delhi and a postgraduate diploma in business administration from the Institute of Management Technology.
Commenting on her appointment, Archna Vyas said, “India is our most significant country partnership, and her domestically driven model of innovation and progress shows how sustainable, transformative change can uplift millions. The strength of India’s talent and intellect, spanning world-class research, science, and technology, has made the country a global engine of R&D and innovation. Solutions pioneered here are already shaping development outcomes far beyond India’s borders. I look forward to working closely with governments, communities, philanthropists, and our partners to support the Government of India’s vision of becoming a developed economy by 2047, and to help bring India’s insights and innovations to the world”.
Ankur Vora, Chief Strategy Officer, Gates Foundation, said, “Archna brings a deep understanding of India’s development and innovation landscape and a demonstrated record of building partnerships that deliver impactful results. As the first woman to lead the India Office, we are delighted to have her at the helm at such a pivotal moment in India’s growth and global leadership journey. Her appointment comes as India’s dynamic innovation ecosystem continues to generate solutions with global relevance, deepening a partnership with the Gates Foundation that has grown over more than two decades.”
Vyas succeeds Hari Menon, who has led the Gates Foundation’s India Country Office since 2019 and will transition to a global leadership role from January 2026.
