Leadership
The People Shaping What's Next
XED brings together accomplished leaders from some of the world's leading institutions and organizations, with deep expertise spanning executive education, business, technology, AI, finance, growth, and operations.
Their shared ambition is to create learning experiences that help senior leaders navigate complexity, lead with confidence, and build what comes next.
John Kallelil
Founder & CEO
John Kallelil founded XED in 2015 to deliver strategic clarity and leadership development to senior executives navigating complex global markets. Bringing over two decades of international experience across banking, operations, and executive education in New York, Shanghai, and Abu Dhabi, he has led XED’s expansion into a global platform serving leaders across the Middle East, Far East, North America, and South Asia. In partnership with premier global academic institutions, John drives transformative executive programs spanning strategy, digital transformation, and finance. John Kallelil has an MBA from ISB (Class of 2009) and also enjoys alumni benefits from Columbia Business School, New York. John is based out of New York, and is currently working on the next chapter of XED’s growth.
W. Bruce Wiesner
President & Chief Business Officer
W. Bruce Wiesner oversees global commercial operations and strategic growth at XED, drawing on more than 25 years of executive leadership across business education, media, and corporate operations. As former Associate Dean of Executive Education at the UBC Sauder School of Business, he doubled institutional revenue, increased net profits six-fold, and earned top Financial Times global rankings. His executive career also features senior vice president roles at Canada Wide Media and Quebecor World, establishing a proven track record of modernizing future-ready organizations through operational discipline and market expansion.
Rupesh Bisht
Chief Growth Officer
Rupesh Bisht leads XED’s global B2C enterprise, steering demand generation, sales operations, and enrollment strategy across international markets. Over a 25-year career in higher education marketing and executive revenue generation, he previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Masters’ Union and led marketing and student growth for the Indian School of Business’s flagship MBA program. Rupesh holds an MBA in Strategic Marketing and Leadership from the Indian School of Business and specializes in scaling commercial engines that expand global market share.
Mrinal Srivastava
Chief Technology & AI Officer
Mrinal Srivastava directs XED’s technology strategy, having architected the organization's AI-native ecosystem from the ground up to unify program design, delivery, and learner engagement. With over 25 years of digital transformation leadership across EdTech, healthcare, and financial services, he pioneered an industry-first product suite co-developed with Ivy League faculty to elevate how executives interact with knowledge and mentorship. An alumnus of IIT Kanpur, the Indian School of Business, and Cornell University, Mrinal focuses on deploying artificial intelligence to fundamentally rethink education rather than merely automate existing workflows.
Piyush Agrawal
Chief Financial Officer
Piyush Agrawal shapes XED's commercial strategy, capital allocation, and global financial governance, bringing more than two decades of corporate finance, fundraising, and strategic advisory expertise. His career includes senior leadership roles at ICICI Bank, Intellecap, and the KIPCO Group, where he advised growth-stage enterprises and startups on complex fundraising and financial structuring. Piyush holds a Bachelor's in Engineering and an MBA in Finance from TAPMI, combining rigorous institutional discipline with an entrepreneurial approach to scaling international operations.
Rachit Mathew
AVP – Program Delivery & Operations
Rachit Mathew leads global program operations and execution at XED, directing cross-functional teams of program managers to deliver high-touch executive learning experiences at scale. With a decade of specialized experience in leadership development, his role unifies faculty coordination, operational logistics, and participant experience across XED’s global portfolio. Rachit is a former national-level tennis gold medalist in India.
Kiran Pathade
AVP – Human Resources
Kiran Pathade leads HR at XED, with 15+ years of experience across people strategy, talent management, organisation development, performance and rewards, and HR operations. She has held HR leadership roles across FMCG, manufacturing, and growth-stage organisations, including Keya Foods International, Allied Blenders & Distillers, Nobel Hygiene, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, Ruchi Soya Industries, and Wipro Enterprises. At XED, Kiran works closely with the founders and leadership team on talent, leadership, performance, employee experience, HR technology, governance, and building the organisational infrastructure to support XED’s continued growth.