KIPS Learning names Shashikala Meenakumari as Head of Publishing

KIPS Learning Pvt. Ltd., the education vertical of the ABP Group, has announced the appointment of Shashikala Meenakumari as Head – Publishing.

Shashikala brings more than 30 years of extensive experience in school and trade publishing, with strong expertise in K–12 curriculum development, education policy and editorial leadership. She is well regarded for her ability to reimagine conventional learning content into engaging, learner-focused and teacher-friendly resources that align with changing curricular frameworks and teaching methodologies.

Most recently, as Director – School Publishing at Macmillan Education India Pvt. Ltd., Shashikala led the publication of thousands of titles spanning Early Years, Science, EVS, Mathematics, Computer Science/ICT, English and higher education anthologies. Her role encompassed strategic oversight of publishing operations, P&L responsibility, commissioning authors and subject experts, building and mentoring editorial teams, and driving teacher training programmes—contributing significantly to content quality and educational impact.

A highly accomplished academic, Shashikala is a University Gold Medallist and holds postgraduate degrees in Education and Human Rights, along with an M.Phil. in Education. Her combination of academic distinction and practical publishing expertise positions her well to lead KIPS Learning through its next stage of growth.

Commenting on the appointment, Yash Mehta, CEO – ABP Education, said:
“Shashikala’s appointment underlines our commitment to excellence and innovation in education. Her rich experience, strong academic foundation and leadership in large-scale publishing make her a valuable addition to the KIPS Learning leadership team. We are confident she will play a key role in shaping future-ready learning solutions.”

Venugopal Bhaskar, President – KIPS Learning Pvt. Ltd., added: “Shashikala brings together academic depth, editorial expertise and strategic publishing leadership. As KIPS continues to expand its curriculum offerings and deepen its presence across schools, her vision and experience will be crucial in driving high-quality, learner-centric content at scale.”

Biju Thomas, Chief Operating Officer, KIPS Learning Pvt. Ltd., said: “At a time of rapid transformation in school education, Shashikala’s leadership will help KIPS accelerate innovation while preserving strong pedagogical foundations. We are pleased to welcome her and look forward to the impact she will have across our publishing portfolio.”

Shashikala Meenakumari said: “I am delighted to join KIPS Learning at such an exciting phase of its journey. I look forward to working closely with the leadership and editorial teams to develop meaningful, future-ready learning resources that support teachers and inspire students.”