The Gates Foundation has announced the appointment of Archna Vyas as its Country Director for India. In this role, Archna Vyas will lead the foundation’s work in collaboration with central and state governments, philanthropists, civil society, academia, and the private sector, aligned with the Government of India’s vision of Viksit Bharat.
The foundation has worked in India since 2003, partnering with the Indian government and other stakeholders across areas including healthcare, sanitation, gender equality, agricultural development, digital public infrastructure, education, and financial empowerment. Over the past two decades, India has made progress in health and economic outcomes, lifting millions out of poverty, with domestically driven innovation shaping development outcomes.
Prior to this appointment, Archna Vyas served as Global Director for the foundation’s Global Policy and Advocacy division, leading work across Growth, Opportunity and Empowerment. She has worked across country-level and global engagements, driving policy efforts, partnerships, and external communications across development priorities including digital public infrastructure, agriculture, sanitation, nutrition, education, and women’s economic empowerment. Archna Vyas joined the foundation in 2014 and has worked across its health and poverty alleviation portfolio in India.
Before joining the Gates Foundation, Archna Vyas led communications and digital marketing across South and Southeast Asia and supported MENA markets for Reckitt, and held senior roles at marketing and advertising organisations.
Archna Vyas succeeds Hari Menon, who has led the Gates Foundation’s India Country Office since 2019 and will move to a global leadership role from January 2026.
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.”
