Global management consultancy Kearney has announced two key leadership appointments in its Asia Pacific region as part of a regular leadership rotation, effective 1 January 2025. Varun Arora has been named managing partner for Southeast Asia, while Siddharth Jain has been appointed managing partner and country head for India.
Based in Singapore, Mr Arora will oversee Kearney’s Southeast Asia operations, which span key markets including Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. In his new role, he will be responsible for driving client impact, expanding market opportunities, and nurturing the next generation of consulting talent across the region.
The Southeast Asia unit, which Kearney established in 1990 with its entry into Singapore, supports clients across a wide spectrum of industries. These include technology, telecommunications, consumer goods, retail, healthcare, financial services, energy, automotive, transportation, and process industries.
A Kearney Original with more than 17 years at the firm, Mr Arora brings extensive experience in strategic growth and digital transformation. He most recently led the firm’s communications, media, and technology practice in Southeast Asia—the largest practice in the Southeast Asian unit—as well as Kearney’s growing digital and analytics practice at the Asia Pacific level. Mr Arora has a proven track record of delivering results for clients across various markets and cultures in Southeast Asia and building high-performance teams.
Commenting on the appointment, Shigeru Sekinada, region chair of Asia Pacific, said, “I am delighted to welcome Varun as the next leader of our Southeast Asia unit. With his deep expertise, collaborative leadership style, and vision for growth, I am confident that he will continue to propel Kearney’s success in this dynamic region by promoting a purpose-driven culture focused on enhancing societal well-being. Southeast Asia remains a cornerstone of our Asia Pacific growth strategy, and Varun’s leadership will ensure we continue to deliver exceptional results for our clients and our people.”
Mr Arora’s appointment follows an exceptional tenure by Nithin Chandra, during which the Southeast Asia unit achieved record performance and expanded its presence in new markets. Under Mr Chandra’s leadership, Kearney opened its Philippines office in Manila in 2022, and expanded its Bangkok office in Thailand in 2024 as part of the firm's next stage of growth in Southeast Asia. Mr Chandra will continue to play an integral role at Kearney, focusing on strategic initiatives and client growth.
In India, Siddharth Jain brings a wealth of experience to his new role as managing partner and country head. He will focus on strengthening Kearney’s market position in India, driving client impact, and accelerating the firm’s growth trajectory. In his more than 16 years with the firm, Mr Jain has held pivotal roles, most recently as the Asia Pacific co-lead for strategic operations and performance. His expertise lies in leading large-scale business transformations and delivering sustained tangible outcomes for clients across industries.
Shigeru Sekinada added, “Siddharth has a clear purpose to work towards the well-being of society and change India and the world at large. His passion for driving regenerative transformation among the most influential large corporations and emerging companies establishes him as an innovative leader who will guide clients to new horizons. I am confident that under Siddharth’s leadership, our team in India will deliver Kando quality in every engagement and foster a purpose-passion-driven culture that attracts talented professionals.”
Mr Jain succeeds Kaushika Madhavan, who will now focus on market and client expansion initiatives under Kearney's ONE APAC strategy. Under his leadership, Kearney India experienced significant growth, delivered impactful solutions, and enhanced its reputation as a trusted business advisor.
These appointments reflect Kearney’s commitment to nurturing purpose-driven leadership to accelerate growth across the region.
Source: Kearney