Leadership Update: Nilesh Sangoi is no longer CEO of Meru Cabs. He left the company around 2019 and joined Fincare Small Finance Bank as Chief Digital Officer & Head of Data Analytics. After Fincare merged with AU Small Finance Bank in April 2024, Sangoi transitioned to AU Small Finance Bank as Deputy Chief Information Officer. Meru Cabs was fully acquired by Mahindra Logistics in December 2021 and has since been rebranded as Alyte, a premium ride-hailing service under Mahindra.
Nilesh Sangoi served as CEO of Meru Cabs from January 2017 to approximately 2019. A technology veteran with over 30 years of corporate IT experience, Sangoi had been Meru’s Chief Technology Officer since 2007 before his elevation to the top role. He led efforts to improve customer and driver-partner experiences and pivoted the company toward a B2B business model during a fiercely competitive period when Ola and Uber were aggressively expanding in India. Today, Sangoi serves as Deputy Chief Information Officer at AU Small Finance Bank.
Nilesh Sangoi – Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Nilesh Sangoi |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Role at Meru | CEO (Jan 2017 – ~2019) — FORMER |
| Current Role | Deputy Chief Information Officer, AU Small Finance Bank |
| Previous Role | Chief Digital Officer & Head of Data Analytics, Fincare Small Finance Bank (2020–2024) |
| Education | CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor); CISM (Certified Information Security Manager, ISACA USA) |
| Estimated Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed |
| Estimated Salary | Not publicly disclosed |
| linkedin.com/in/nilesh-sangoi-8499874 | |
| Twitter/X | @nileshsangoi |
Is Nilesh Sangoi Still CEO of Meru Cabs?
No. Nilesh Sangoi is no longer CEO of Meru Cabs. He departed the company around 2019 and was subsequently appointed Chief Digital Officer and Head of Data Analytics at Fincare Small Finance Bank. After Fincare merged with AU Small Finance Bank in April 2024, Sangoi became Deputy Chief Information Officer at the combined entity.
Meru Cabs itself underwent major structural changes:
- 2021: Mahindra & Mahindra raised its stake to 100%, fully acquiring Meru Cabs
- December 2021: Mahindra Logistics acquired 100% of Meru Cabs from Mahindra & Mahindra
- 2024–2025: Meru Cabs expanded to airports including Ahmedabad (November 2024)
- 2025: Mahindra Logistics rebranded Meru as Alyte, a premium tech-enabled ride-hailing service targeting Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad
Career Highlights
Key Achievement: Nilesh Sangoi was promoted from CTO to CEO of Meru Cabs in January 2017 — a rare technology-to-CEO transition in the Indian mobility sector. He helped pivot Meru toward a profitable B2B model and turned around a loss-making enterprise into a profitable one.
- 30+ years of experience building technology platforms across media, transportation, and banking
- Founding team member of Meru Mobility Tech Pvt Ltd. — built the pioneering cab technology platform from scratch
- Led Meru’s pivot from B2C to B2B operations to survive competition from Ola and Uber
- Turned around a loss-making enterprise into a profitable one as CEO of Meru
- At Star TV, built the technology backbone for media and entertainment operations
- Transitioned into fintech/banking with senior digital and data analytics leadership roles
Nilesh Sangoi Salary & Net Worth
Nilesh Sangoi’s salary and net worth details have not been publicly disclosed. As a senior executive in the Indian technology and banking sector, his compensation across roles would have been in line with Indian mid-cap sector executives.
| Component | Estimate |
|---|---|
| CEO Salary (Meru Cabs, 2017–2019) | Estimated INR 1–3 crore annually (not publicly confirmed) |
| Current Salary (AU Small Finance Bank) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed |
| Stock Holdings | Not publicly disclosed (private company during Meru tenure) |
Career Timeline – Nilesh Sangoi
| Period | Role | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| ~1993–2007 | AVP (Information Technology) / Head of Technology | Star TV Network |
| 2007–2017 | Chief Technology Officer | Meru Cabs |
| Jan 2017 – ~2019 | Chief Executive Officer | Meru Cabs / Meru Mobility Tech Pvt Ltd |
| 2020–2024 | Chief Digital Officer & Head of Data Analytics | Fincare Small Finance Bank |
| 2024–Present | Deputy Chief Information Officer | AU Small Finance Bank |
Education & Certifications
Nilesh Sangoi holds internationally recognised IT governance certifications from ISACA, USA:
- CISA — Certified Information Systems Auditor (ISACA)
- CISM — Certified Information Security Manager (ISACA, USA)
With over 30 years of experience managing IT operations end-to-end for large corporate organisations, Sangoi’s expertise spans technology architecture, digital transformation, data analytics, and enterprise leadership.
Meru Cabs Competitors
During Sangoi’s tenure as CEO, Meru Cabs competed in India’s fiercely contested ride-hailing market:
- Ola Cabs — India’s largest ride-hailing platform
- Uber India — Global ride-hailing giant’s Indian operations
- BluSmart — Electric vehicle ride-hailing service (launched 2019)
- Rapido — Bike taxi and cab service
After the Mahindra Logistics acquisition, the rebranded Alyte now positions itself as a premium alternative to Ola and Uber, focusing on airport transfers and enterprise mobility.
Company Background – Meru Cabs (Now Alyte by Mahindra)
Meru Cabs was founded in 2007 by Neeraj Gupta as a Mumbai-based radio taxi service. India Value Fund Advisors (IVFA) held approximately 87% equity stake. In 2016, Brand Capital (investment arm of Bennett, Coleman & Co.) invested $25 million. Mahindra & Mahindra progressively acquired Meru, completing full ownership in 2021. Mahindra Logistics then acquired 100% of Meru from M&M in December 2021.
In 2025, Mahindra Logistics retired the Meru brand and launched Alyte, a premium tech-enabled ride-hailing service. Alyte offers two tiers: Alyte Privé (electric vehicles for premium rides) and Alyte Select (high-quality sedans and SUVs). The service launched in Delhi NCR with planned expansion to Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
Contact Nilesh Sangoi
| Channel | Details |
|---|---|
| linkedin.com/in/nilesh-sangoi-8499874 | |
| Twitter/X | @nileshsangoi |
| Current Employer | AU Small Finance Bank |
| Meru Cabs (legacy) Support | Call 4422 4422 with city STD code; Email: [email protected] |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Nilesh Sangoi still CEO of Meru Cabs?
No. Nilesh Sangoi left Meru Cabs around 2019. He subsequently joined Fincare Small Finance Bank as Chief Digital Officer. After Fincare merged with AU Small Finance Bank in April 2024, Sangoi became Deputy Chief Information Officer at AU Small Finance Bank. Meru Cabs itself has been rebranded as Alyte under Mahindra Logistics.
What is Nilesh Sangoi’s net worth?
Nilesh Sangoi’s net worth has not been publicly disclosed. As a former CEO of a private Indian cab company and current banking technology executive, his net worth is not available through public filings or SEC-equivalent disclosures.
What happened to Meru Cabs?
Meru Cabs was fully acquired by Mahindra & Mahindra in 2021, then transferred to Mahindra Logistics. In 2025, the Meru brand was retired and replaced with Alyte, a premium ride-hailing service operating primarily at airports and in major Indian cities.
Where does Nilesh Sangoi work now?
As of 2026, Nilesh Sangoi serves as Deputy Chief Information Officer at AU Small Finance Bank, one of India’s largest small finance banks. He joined via the merger of Fincare Small Finance Bank (where he was CDO) with AU Small Finance Bank in April 2024.
Article last updated: January 2026
Disclaimer: All information presented in this article has been compiled from publicly available sources, including corporate news reports, LinkedIn profiles, and reputable industry publications. Salary and net worth figures for this executive are not publicly available. This content is provided for informational purposes only.