Punit Renjen

Punit Renjen
Punit Renjen
Born	Template:Birth year and age
Birthplace	Rohtak, Haryana, India
Nationality	American
Occupation	Business executive
Title	Global CEO Emeritus
Employer	Deloitte
Known for	Global CEO of Deloitte (2015–2022)
Education	Willamette University (MBA, 1987)

Punit Renjen (born 1961) is an Indian-American business executive who served as the Global Chief Executive Officer of Deloitte, one of the world's largest multinational professional services firms, from June 1, 2015, until his retirement on December 31, 2022. His trajectory from a small industrial town in northern India to the helm of a global organization with hundreds of thousands of employees became one of the more widely noted leadership stories in international business during the 2010s. Born and raised in Rohtak, in the Indian state of Haryana, Renjen moved to the United States to pursue a graduate degree at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, and subsequently built his entire career at Deloitte and its predecessor firm, Touche Ross. Before assuming the global CEO role, Renjen served as chairman and CEO of Deloitte Consulting LLP and later as chairman of Deloitte LLP (United States) from 2011 to 2015. Following his retirement, Renjen was designated Deloitte Global CEO Emeritus. He has also held board positions at United Way Worldwide, the U.S.-India Business Council, Catlin Gabel School, and Willamette University, and has served as a member of the President's Export Council.

Early Life

Punit Renjen was born in 1961 and raised in Rohtak, a city in the northern Indian state of Haryana. His family background was modest; accounts of his upbringing describe a childhood rooted in the industrial milieu of a small Indian town. A profile in Quartz described him as "a refugee's son from a small Indian town," referencing his family's history of displacement during the Partition of India in 1947.

Renjen's early years in Rohtak exposed him to factory work and the practical realities of commerce in a developing economy. The Australian Financial Review profiled his journey under the headline describing a path "from factory worker to Deloitte global CEO," underscoring the distance between his origins and the pinnacle of the global professional services industry. His upbringing in Rohtak, a city that was at the time considerably removed from India's major commercial centers such as New Delhi, Mumbai, or Kolkata, shaped his perspective on economic opportunity and social mobility—themes he would later return to in public speeches and interviews.

Renjen's path from Rohtak to the United States was facilitated by his pursuit of higher education abroad. At a time when emigration from smaller Indian cities for graduate study in the West was less common than it would become in subsequent decades, Renjen's decision to attend an American university represented a significant undertaking for his family. Indian media outlets, including The Hindu, DNA India, and Livemint, noted his Rohtak origins prominently when his appointment as Deloitte Global CEO was announced in 2015.

Education

Renjen pursued his graduate education at Willamette University's Atkinson Graduate School of Management in Salem, Oregon, where he earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in 1987. The Atkinson school, a relatively small graduate management program within a liberal arts university, became a formative institution for Renjen, and he maintained close ties with the university throughout his career.

Willamette University subsequently recognized Renjen's accomplishments and his connection to the institution on multiple occasions. The university's Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) recognized him among the world's most influential business leaders, citing his impact on others through his leadership. Renjen also served as a trustee of the university, contributing to its governance and strategic direction. In 2015, the Statesman Journal reported that Renjen was honored by his alma mater for his professional achievements.

Renjen's philanthropic engagement with Willamette has been substantial. The university announced in May 2025 the establishment of the Renjen Career Center on the first floor of the Putnam University Center, named in recognition of his contributions. Additionally, the university established the Renjen Fellows Program, an initiative that prepares students for community revitalization and social impact work, with an inaugural cohort including students and faculty from across Willamette's colleges and schools. A separate Renjen Prize for Faculty Excellence was also created, with Colin Birkhead receiving the award in 2025.

Career

Early Career at Touche Ross and Deloitte

After completing his MBA at Willamette University in 1987, Renjen was hired by Touche Ross, one of the major international accounting and professional services firms of the era. In 1989, Touche Ross merged with Deloitte Haskins & Sells to form Deloitte & Touche, which later became part of the broader Deloitte organization. Renjen continued with the merged entity and built his career within the Deloitte network, remaining with the firm for the entirety of his professional life.

Renjen's career at Deloitte spanned multiple decades and encompassed a progression through the firm's consulting practice. Over the years, he took on roles of increasing responsibility within Deloitte's U.S. operations, establishing himself as a leader in the firm's consulting division. His long tenure at a single organization—unusual in an era of frequent executive mobility—was frequently noted in profiles of his career.

Chairman and CEO of Deloitte Consulting LLP

Renjen rose to the position of chairman and chief executive officer of Deloitte Consulting LLP, the consulting arm of Deloitte's U.S. operations. In this role, he oversaw the strategic direction and operations of one of the largest management consulting practices in the world.

His leadership of the consulting practice positioned him as one of the most senior executives within the broader Deloitte organization in the United States, setting the stage for his subsequent elevation to the chairmanship of Deloitte LLP.

Chairman of Deloitte LLP (United States)

In 2011, Renjen assumed the role of chairman of Deloitte LLP, the United States member firm of the Deloitte network. He served in this capacity until 2015, providing governance oversight of one of the largest professional services operations in the country. During this period, Renjen was recognized by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) in its Directorship 100 honorees list in 2012, 2013, and 2014, an acknowledgment of his influence in the area of corporate governance and board leadership.

His tenure as U.S. chairman coincided with a period of growth and transformation in the professional services industry, as firms like Deloitte expanded their offerings beyond traditional audit and tax services into technology consulting, digital transformation, and strategic advisory work. Renjen's background in consulting informed his approach to leading the broader U.S. practice.

Global CEO of Deloitte (2015–2022)

On February 11, 2015, Deloitte announced that Renjen had been elected to serve as the next Global CEO of the Deloitte network, effective June 1, 2015. The appointment made him the first person of Indian origin to lead the Deloitte global organization, a fact that received extensive coverage in both Indian and international media. The Economic Times reported on his selection, noting his origins and career trajectory.

As Global CEO, Renjen was responsible for overseeing the Deloitte network's operations across more than 150 countries and territories. Deloitte, as one of the Big Four accounting firms, provides audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, tax, and related services. The global CEO role required coordinating the activities and strategy of numerous member firms that operate under the Deloitte brand but maintain distinct national structures and partnerships.

Renjen served in the Global CEO role for more than seven years, a period during which the professional services industry underwent significant transformation driven by advances in technology, changes in regulatory environments, and the global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. His leadership period also saw continued expansion of Deloitte's consulting and advisory capabilities, including in areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.

In a 2025 address to Deloitte professionals, Renjen reflected on the firm's evolution and challenged colleagues to "break down barriers and work together to transform the organization" as part of what was described as Deloitte's journey toward its next 175 years.

Renjen retired as Deloitte Global CEO on December 31, 2022, and was subsequently designated as Deloitte Global CEO Emeritus, a title he continues to hold.

Post-Deloitte Activities and SAP

Following his retirement from Deloitte, Renjen was nominated on February 22, 2023, to join the Supervisory Board of SAP SE, the German multinational software corporation. The nomination envisioned Renjen succeeding SAP co-founder Hasso Plattner as chairman of the Supervisory Board. A World Economic Forum profile from October 2024 described Renjen as serving as Deputy Chairman of the SAP Supervisory Board and transitioning into the Chairman role.

However, Renjen departed SAP on February 12, 2024. The departure was attributed to "differences in perspective on the role," and the nomination for him to succeed Plattner as chairman was rescinded. The circumstances of his brief tenure at SAP attracted attention given the high-profile nature of both the position and the succession from Plattner, who had co-founded SAP in 1972 and had long been one of the most prominent figures in the European technology industry.

Board Memberships and Public Service

Throughout his career, Renjen held a number of board and advisory positions outside of Deloitte. He served on the board of directors of United Way Worldwide, a global nonprofit organization focused on education, income, and health initiatives.

Renjen was appointed as a vice chair of the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC), a position he shared with Edward Monser. The USIBC is a bilateral trade association that promotes commerce between the United States and India.

He also served on the board of Catlin Gabel School, a private school in Portland, Oregon. In addition, Renjen has been a member of the Wall Street Journal's CEO Council and has served on the President's Export Council, an advisory committee that provides recommendations to the President of the United States on international trade and export policy.

Philanthropy and Engagement with Willamette University

Renjen's relationship with Willamette University extended well beyond his time as a student. As a trustee of the university, he contributed to its governance. His philanthropic support for Willamette led to the naming of several programs and facilities in his honor.

The Renjen Career Center, announced in May 2025, was established on the first floor of the Putnam University Center following renovations. The center was created to support students' career development and professional preparation.

The Renjen Fellows Program, launched in early 2025, is designed to prepare students for work in community revitalization and social impact. The inaugural cohort included students and faculty from across the university's colleges and schools, tasked with proposing innovative solutions to community challenges. By early 2026, Renjen Fellows had engaged in projects addressing real-world issues, including a walking tour of Portland's Old Town designed by fellows Joshua Torres, William LaDuca, and Anastasiia Lemesh that explored urban challenges.

The Renjen Prize for Faculty Excellence was established to recognize outstanding teaching and scholarship at the Atkinson Graduate School of Management. Colin Birkhead was named the recipient of the prize in May 2025.

Recognition

Renjen's career and personal trajectory have been the subject of recognition from multiple organizations:

• The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) named Renjen among the world's most influential business leaders, citing his work in inspiring others through his leadership.
• The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) included Renjen in its Directorship 100 list of the most influential people in boardrooms and corporate governance in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
• Willamette University honored Renjen in September 2015, recognizing his achievements as a graduate of the Atkinson Graduate School of Management.
• The Australian Financial Review profiled Renjen's career trajectory in a feature article highlighting his journey from Rohtak to the leadership of a global professional services firm.
• Indian media outlets, including The Hindu, Livemint, DNA India, Firstpost, and The Economic Times, covered his appointment as Deloitte Global CEO as a notable achievement for a person of Indian origin in global business.

His membership on the Wall Street Journal's CEO Council and his appointment to the President's Export Council further reflect his standing in American business and policy circles.

Legacy

Punit Renjen's career is notable for several dimensions. His rise from a small city in northern India to the global leadership of one of the world's largest professional services organizations placed him among a cohort of Indian-born executives who reached the top positions of major multinational corporations during the 2000s and 2010s. His story was frequently cited alongside those of other Indian-origin CEOs at global firms as illustrative of the role of immigration and education in enabling upward mobility in the American corporate environment.

His tenure as Deloitte Global CEO from 2015 to 2022 encompassed a period of significant change in the professional services industry. As CEO Emeritus, he has continued to be involved with the organization, contributing perspectives on the future direction of the firm.

At Willamette University, the multiple programs and facilities bearing his name—the Renjen Career Center, the Renjen Fellows Program, and the Renjen Prize for Faculty Excellence—represent a sustained engagement with the institution that provided his entry into American professional life. The Renjen Fellows Program, in particular, with its focus on community revitalization and social impact, reflects an emphasis on connecting academic training with practical community outcomes.

His brief engagement with SAP's Supervisory Board in 2023–2024, though it did not result in the planned chairmanship, underscored his continued prominence in global business leadership circles following his departure from Deloitte.