MSM Unify names Rishi Kapoor as Chief Financial Officer

MSM Unify has appointed Rishi Kapoor as chief financial officer as the student recruitment platform works towards a possible public listing in its 2028 fiscal year.

Kapoor brings more than 20 years of finance experience across education technology, information technology, pharmaceuticals and supply chain businesses. During his career, he has raised more than USD $110 million in equity funding and led acquisitions and listing preparation work involving Indian market regulators, stock exchanges and investment banks.

The appointment is linked to plans for a potential dual listing on an Indian stock exchange and a US venue such as Nasdaq. Kapoor will oversee financial strategy, fundraising, investor relations and financial operations across MSM Unify's international business.

MSM Unify operates in North America, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, India, Africa and Australia. Its platform connects students, recruitment partners and universities across multiple markets.

Before joining MSM Unify, Kapoor was chief financial and business officer at Biodeal Pharmaceuticals, where he worked on the company's capital structure as it prepared for a possible stock market debut. Earlier, he spent six years as chief revenue officer at GirnarSoft Education Services, the business behind student platform CollegeDekho.com.

At GirnarSoft Education Services, Kapoor led several equity and debt fundraising rounds and worked on multiple acquisitions. That experience is likely to prove relevant as MSM Unify builds the financial and governance structure needed for public markets while expanding across several regions.

Listing plans

MSM Unify's planned dual-listing route is intended to give it access to both domestic and international investors. The company has positioned the move as part of a broader effort to build a larger cross-border education business with a stronger institutional footing.

The appointment also reflects pressure on private education technology groups to bring in finance executives with public market experience earlier in their growth cycle. In sectors shaped by regulation, international expansion and changing investor expectations, companies often need stronger internal controls and clearer capital planning before attempting a listing.

MSM Unify operates in the international student recruitment market, where platforms connect students with courses in different countries through universities and agents. That market has faced shifts in visa policy, student demand and recruitment economics in major destinations including Australia, Canada and the UK.

For businesses operating across those corridors, the finance brief often extends beyond standard accounting and treasury functions. It can include capital allocation across regions, oversight of local compliance requirements, management of investor messaging and support for acquisition activity.

Sanjay Laul, founder, MSM Unify, outlined the company's view of the hire in a statement. "Rishi understands what it takes to build a business that lasts," said Laul. "He has done this before in education, at scale, and through multiple stages of a company's path to the public markets. As we expand across new geographies and prepare for a listing that reflects both our India roots and our global reach, his experience in financial strategy, capital raising and disciplined execution will be invaluable to us."

Career background

Kapoor's background spans both finance leadership and commercial roles. That mix can be important at companies still expanding rapidly, where the finance chief is often expected to support revenue growth, assess acquisition targets and help shape investor narratives alongside more conventional reporting duties.

His qualifications include chartered accountant status in India and a master of commerce degree from Himachal Pradesh University. MSM Unify also said he is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and a lifetime certified independent director registered with India's Institute of Corporate Affairs.

In remarks issued alongside the announcement, Kapoor pointed to the company's position in international education and the need for financial discipline as it grows. "MSM Unify is solving a real problem for students and institutions around the world, and doing so at a scale few companies can match. Having spent a significant part of my career in education, I understand how important strong financial leadership is in building a sustainable and scalable business. I look forward to working with the team to strengthen the company's financial foundation and help shape its next phase of growth," said Kapoor.