Veteran entrepreneur and tech executive Jitendra Kumar has returned to Plano-based global digital skills upskiller Simplilearn as chief technology officer, bringing with him a track record of driving large-scale tech innovation.

Founded in 2010 and based in Plano and Bangalore, India, Simplilearn is a Blackstone portfolio company. It relocated from San Francisco to North Texas in 2024.

In Kumar’s previous tenure with the firm, he led the development of high-performance web and mobile platforms that were instrumental in Simplilearn’s rapid scale-up, the company said. In his new role, Kumar will lead Simplilearn’s AI-first transformation, embedding AI technologies from generative to predictive to personalize learning and scale global impact.

“We’re delighted to welcome Jitendra back as part of our executive team,” Krishna Kumar, founder and CEO of Simplilearn, said in a statement. “His reappointment comes at a pivotal moment as we sharpen our global AI strategy internally and as a market-facing solution. Jitendra’s leadership will be critical in advancing our AI-readiness, scaling capabilities, and strengthening our position as a leading digital upskilling platform. His diverse industry experience will be invaluable as we strengthen our presence across global markets.”

Before rejoining Simplilearn, Jitendra Kumar was co-founder and CEO of HappyCredit, a fintech startup backed by Kunal Shah and Goodwater Capital. He also built ReelOn, an AI-powered video content creation platform for creators, agencies, and brands. 

“I’m excited to return to Simplilearn during such a transformative time for the company and the edtech industry at large,” Jitendra Kumar said. “As we accelerate our AI journey, we must adopt a holistic approach, embedding AI across our tech and learning ecosystem to create smarter, more personalized, and scalable upskilling solutions. Our goal is to bridge the gap between AI ambition and real-world readiness, empowering talent and businesses to lead confidently in the AI-first era.”