NetApp, the intelligent data infrastructure company, has announced the appointment of Syam Nair as Chief Product Officer (CPO), effective July 7, 2025. Nair takes over from Harv Bhela, who concluded his tenure in June after a successful period of product leadership.
Bringing over 25 years of experience across leading technology firms, Nair joins NetApp at a crucial time as the company sharpens its focus on hybrid cloud and AI-driven solutions. In his new role, he will oversee product and engineering teams, helping to accelerate innovation and align product strategy with NetApp’s broader vision for data-centric business transformation.
“I am thrilled to welcome Syam to NetApp’s leadership team. He joins us at a time when our customers are looking to NetApp to help them deliver data-enabled growth and productivity: not only must they innovate to stay ahead, but they must also simplify to improve productivity and agility. This is a balance Syam has mastered throughout his career,” said George Kurian, Chief Executive Officer at NetApp. “Syam’s proven track record – from building planet-scale Azure data services at Microsoft to spearheading hyper-scale platforms like Salesforce Data Cloud – is exactly what we need as we sharpen our focus on high-growth markets. Importantly, he’s not only a brilliant technologist but also a people-first leader who builds teams grounded in integrity and a growth mindset. Under Syam’s product leadership, I’m confident NetApp will deliver even more innovation and value for customers, and strengthen our position as a cloud, data and AI leader, and remain at the forefront of what’s next.”
Before joining NetApp, Nair served as Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of R&D at Zscaler. His career also includes senior leadership roles at Microsoft, where he was instrumental in building Azure’s globally distributed data services, and at Salesforce, where he led the development of Salesforce Data Cloud—an AI-powered platform for next-generation customer engagement.
“I’m excited to join NetApp at such a pivotal time in the industry. Enterprises are embracing cloud and AI to transform their operations, and NetApp is uniquely positioned to help them succeed with its rich portfolio and talent,” said Syam Nair, Chief Product Officer at NetApp. “I’ve spent my career tackling complex technological challenges and leading teams through transformations for hyper-growth. I’m thrilled to bring that experience to NetApp. We will set a bold vision for the future of hybrid cloud data services and execute with a growth mindset and relentless focus on customer success. NetApp has an inspiring mission and a values-driven culture and I’m honored to be part of the team and eager to drive the next wave of innovation for our customers and partners.”
As NetApp deepens its footprint in high-growth areas such as AI, cloud, and data services, Nair’s appointment signals a strategic move to align leadership with the evolving demands of digital enterprises.
