Amar Panchal

CEO

Amar, along with Sonu Ratra, founded Akraya in 2001. He possesses over 15 years of management, international business development, technology consulting, product management, and software engineering experience.

As a Co-Founder of a high-growth services company, Amar leads by example. Clients consistently appreciate his dedication to delivering outside-the-box custom solutions to meet any challenge. Amar’s eye for talent and his deep-seated faith in empowerment and accountability has helped Akraya grow into an employee-driven organization where each team member values autonomy and respects the responsibility that comes with it.

As a fervent advocate of fighting climate change in the corporate office, Amar invests time and resources to ensure that Akraya’s carbon footprint is minimal. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Pacific Service Credit Union (PSCU), one of the largest credit unions in the U.S. with over $1 billion in assets. Amar holds an MBA in Information Systems from Symbiosis International Education as well as a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Pune, India.

Sonu Ratara

President

As Co-founder and President of Akraya and Founder of Women Back to Work, Sonu is a strong believer that with success comes responsibility. 

Sonu has been recognized as a highly motivated and focused thought leader in the talent and staffing industry. Besides leading Akraya’s aggressive growth strategies, Sonu serves on the Board of Directors at the Institute of Economic Empowerment for Women to support their Peace through Business program. She also serves on the Foundation Board at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group.  

A past winner of the Enterprising Woman of the Year Award, Sonu has received several accolades including the SIA Power 150 – Women in Staffing, Woman of Influence Award, the Stevie Award, Northwood’s Outstanding business leader award and has been featured on the Women Worth Watching List by Diversity Journal. 

An entrepreneur with a charitable heart, Sonu is passionate about giving back to the community. Over the years, she has been an avid supporter for women’s empowerment and is currently spearheading an initiative called “Women Back to Work,” a workforce re-entry program for women.

Tami Forman

Executive Director - Women Back to Work

Nehal Barot

Sr. Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Nehal joined Akraya in 2010 and has served in a range of recruiting positions with increasing responsibilities before being named Vice President, Delivery in 2021. She has extensive staffing industry experience with an expertise in incorporating best practices and effectively bridging the gaps between sales, recruiting, and HR.

She started her career as a Microsoft Developer and later moved into a Business System Analyst role managing MRP systems for a Global Manufacturing Company. In 2005, she joined the staffing industry as a Technical Resource Manager, Mastech.

Currently, Nehal is responsible for leading a diverse recruiting team in providing IT contractors through direct end clients, integrators, and MSP accounts across the U.S. and Canada. She is also relied upon to hire, train, and mentor recruiters along with client-facing, presales activities. 

In her free time, Nehal enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, cooking, gardening, designing, and painting. She was a gold medalist while earning her bachelor’s degree in engineering (computer application to structural engineering) from L.D. College of Engineering.

Pamela Banerjee

Vice President of Strategic Relations, and Head of Diversity Solution

Pam brings over 16 years of experience in the contingent workforce industry, with a proven track record of creating innovative solutions for Fortune 50 companies worldwide.

A Seasoned Professional with a Multifaceted Background

Throughout her career, Pam has established herself as a trusted advisor, guiding numerous clients in designing and implementing successful contingent workforce programs. Her certifications as a Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Contingent Workforce Professional (CCWP), and CCWP-SOW professional demonstrate her mastery of the field.
Pam’s comprehensive approach stems from a diverse career journey. She holds a Computer Science degree and has experience in program management, strategy, sales, and solution design. This multifaceted background allows her to bridge the gap between technical expertise and strategic business needs.

Championing Diversity and Inclusion

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Pam is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion. She serves as a coach with Technovation, a non-profit empowering girls in technology, and has been recognized by the Silicon Valley Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” for her significant contributions to this crucial space. At Akraya, Pam will lead the development of innovative diversity solutions, helping clients build inclusive workforces that drive success.

Sagar Nair

VP of Recruiting Operations

Sagar joined Akraya in 2018 as Director of Recruiting Operations and was promoted to VP, Recruiting Operations in 2021. He has over 12 years of progressive experience in recruiting, operations management, and sales with an expertise in setting up and managing offshore staffing businesses.

Sagar started his career in sales and later moved into staffing as a recruiter. He swiftly moved up the ranks while managing and training several recruiting teams and ultimately set up and ran the operations for a new staffing business. Prior to Akraya, Sagar worked as the Director of Operations at ApTask, and was key to the rapid growth of the company.

Currently, Sagar heads Akraya’s recruiting headquarters in India and manages all recruiting and operations. He oversees the recruitment teams and is responsible for hiring, resource management, budgeting, infrastructure, and planning. He has a strong understanding of the staffing business model and is highly effective in managing large recruiting teams and day-to-day business operations.

Sagar emphasizes learning new things every day because it is his belief that it is essential to growth. He is a fitness enthusiast. For him, fitness is about so much more than exercise. He believes it is a catalyst for positive change and helps in every aspect of life.

When Sagar is not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife, riding his motorcycle, and playing with his Labrador retriever, Royce.

Keshava Kumar

VP of Human Resources

Keshava joined Akraya in 2014 as Director, Human Resources. He brings 18 years of progressive experience in the tech industry running HR functions. Keshava is recognized as a proactive, strategic business partner who can transition strategies into workable plans and actions. He possesses international experience with a firm understanding of operational issues facing today’s business leaders.

At Akraya, Keshava oversees both strategic and operational human resource functions including payroll, compliance and immigration processes. He is highly skilled in employee relations, change management, mergers and acquisitions, compensation planning and benefits administration.

Prior to joining Akraya, Keshava served as Vice President of HR at Idea Solutions, where he established a rich and diversified global HR expertise in leadership roles through his work with many cultures.

He enjoys riding his motorcycle and spending time with his family. Keshava received a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Bangalore University.

Swarn Kamal

VP of Finance

Industry veteran Swarn Kamal joins award winning staffing firm, Akraya as the new Director of Finance for India, bringing over 18 years of financial expertise to the table.

Swarn’s a seasoned pro, having tackled complex financial landscapes across IT, ITeS, software, big four consulting, and staffing throughout his illustrious career in the US, Canada, and the UK.

Most recently, Swarn served as Vice President at US Tech Solutions, where his financial planning magic helped propel business growth.  He’s also honed his skills at esteemed organizations like Innova Solution, Deloitte Consulting, Thomson Reuters, and E&Y, giving him a well-rounded perspective on financial management and strategic planning.

Abhishek Tandon

Director of Marketing