Acko Appoints 4 New Vertical Heads for IPO

Acko Strengthens Leadership with Four New Vertical Heads Ahead of IPO

Acko, the prominent insurtech unicorn, has announced a significant overhaul of its top leadership, appointing four new vertical heads as it intensifies preparations for its upcoming initial public offering (IPO). This strategic expansion of its senior management team is designed to enhance the company’s operational capabilities, drive growth across key business segments, and ensure a robust foundation for its public market debut.

The appointments underscore Acko’s commitment to building a more execution-driven organization, capable of scaling sustainably in a competitive market. By bringing in experienced professionals to lead critical verticals, the company aims to optimize its service delivery and market penetration ahead of its anticipated listing.

Key Executive Appointments and Strategic Focus

The new leadership additions include Apoorv Kalra, formerly an executive at Junglee Games, who has been appointed to spearhead Acko’s auto insurance business. This segment is crucial for Acko, given its strong presence in vehicle insurance. Kunal Kapur, an ex-Meta executive, will take charge of the health vertical, a growing area for the insurtech firm, aligning with its recent expansion into life insurance products.

Vivek Sharma, cofounder of the now-defunct car servicing platform Fixcraft, joins Acko as the head of the Acko Drive Ecosystem. In this role, Mr. Sharma will oversee the company’s integrated car buying and servicing businesses, which form a vital part of Acko’s broader auto marketplace arm. This move highlights Acko’s ambition to offer a comprehensive ecosystem beyond just insurance.

Furthermore, Neha Gupta, who previously held a leadership position at Zepto, has been roped in to lead the “assisted experience” vertical. Her mandate will involve developing a sophisticated, tech-enabled customer experience engine designed to streamline and improve both pre-sales and post-sales customer journeys. This focus on customer experience is critical for retaining and expanding Acko’s user base.

IPO Preparations and Financial Performance

The leadership rejig comes as Acko accelerates its efforts to list on the bourses. Inc42 previously reported that Acko has engaged leading financial institutions, including ICICI Securities, Morgan Stanley, and Kotak Securities, as bankers to manage its upcoming IPO. The company is targeting to file its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) through the confidential route in the second half of 2026, with a projected listing in the first half of 2027.

The anticipated public issue is expected to aim for a total valuation ranging between $2 billion and $2.5 billion. It is planned to comprise a combination of a fresh issue of shares, which will inject new capital into the company, and an offer-for-sale (OFS) component, allowing existing shareholders to divest a portion of their holdings.

Acko’s financial performance provides a positive backdrop to its IPO ambitions. The company recorded a substantial 34.7% year-over-year increase in its operating revenue, which reached ₹2,836.8 crore in the fiscal year 2025, up from ₹2,106.3 crore in the preceding fiscal year. Concurrently, Acko demonstrated improved financial efficiency by trimming its consolidated net loss by 36.7%, reducing it to ₹424.4 crore during FY25 from ₹669.9 crore in FY24. This improvement in profitability metrics could be favorable for investor sentiment ahead of the IPO.

Company Background and Strategic Moves

Founded in 2016 by Varun Dua and Ruchi Deepak, Acko has rapidly grown to become a significant player in the Indian insurtech landscape. The platform initially focused on offering automobile, health, and travel insurance, and further expanded its product portfolio by venturing into the life insurance space in 2024. Its market position was solidified when it achieved unicorn status in 2021, following a successful Series D funding round that raised $255 million, led by prominent investors General Atlantic and Multiples Private Equity Fund.

These recent leadership appointments also follow a period of strategic adjustments within the company. More than a month prior, Acko undertook a restructuring exercise that resulted in the layoff of approximately 5% of its workforce, or around 60 employees. The company cited AI-led automation as the primary driver for these workforce reductions, indicating a strategic shift towards leveraging technology for operational efficiencies as it prepares for public market scrutiny and future growth.