Freshworks Founder Girish Mathrubootham to Step Down from Company

The founder of Freshworks, Girish Mathrubootham, who oversaw the company from its founding in 2010 to its initial public offering (IPO) in 2021, announced that he would leave the company as executive chairman on December 1, 2025.

Why Girish Mathrubootham is Stepping Down?

As he turns his attention to his venture fund, Together, his departure marks a significant shift for one of India's most well-known SaaS (software as a service) companies, just four years after going public in the US. It also highlights the difficulties founder-led companies have in growing beyond their original architects.

Company’s Filing to US SEC

In an 8-K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Freshworks revealed the development. According to the company, Rathna Girish Mathrubootham informed Freshworks Inc. (the “Company”) on September 3, 2025, that he would step down from his positions as Executive Chairman, a Class III member of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), and Chairman of the Board on December 1, 2025, to focus entirely on Together Fund, the venture fund he co-founded.

In response to this notification, the Board designated Roxanne Austin, Lead Independent Director, as the Board's Chairperson, effective December 1, 2025. Since May 2021, Ms Austin has been the lead independent director and a member of our board of directors.

Additionally, Austin and Mathrubootham will collaborate to ensure a seamless change in board leadership. There was no disagreement on the company's operations, rules, or practices that led to Mr. Mathrubootham's resignation. The document further said that the Board will have nine members beginning on December 1, 2025, and that there will be only two Class III directors overall.

Mathrubootham’s Journey in Freshworks

For one of India's most well-known SaaS founders and angel investors, Mathrubootham's departure signifies the end of an era. He was a former Zoho executive who founded Freshworks in 2010 and guided it to its 2021 Nasdaq IPO. He left his position as CEO of the corporation in September 2024, just three years later, and was replaced by Dennis Woodside as executive chairman.

 Mathrubootham has previously stated in an open interview with Moneycontrol that he will concentrate more on AI strategy and Freshworks' long-term goals. "I've always thought that people should maximise their abilities, which is why I'm thrilled about this change." "I'm a product manager at heart, and I think this is the right time for Freshworks to undergo this transition," he added, excluding any plans to leave the company entirely. "AI is transforming the industry."

However, as the market changes due to AI, he has been spending more time in Chennai in the past year, working with his venture fund Together to support the upcoming generation of SaaS companies.