CACTUS Leadership

Abhishek Goel

Co-founder and CEO

After a chance encounter with a Japanese professor who needed support in editing his research paper, Abhishek Goel co-founded Cactus Communications (CACTUS) in 2002. Today he continues to build, develop, and scale the organization. CACTUS has grown into a global scientific communications company that collaborates with researchers, universities, publishers, societies, and life science organizations to accelerate research publishing and impact. A recipient of Ascent Foundation’s “Entrepreneur of the year award” in 2017, Abhishek’s role has been instrumental in establishing, developing, and scaling up the organization. Prior to founding CACTUS, Abhishek was a part of the international non-profit organization AIESEC in various leadership roles. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Mumbai and possesses a deep understanding of customer experience, commitment to innovation, and entrepreneurial vision, and is dedicated to serving CACTUS customers. Under his guidance and inclusive leadership, CACTUS has won recognition like being featured among the Best Companies for Millennials, Top 20 Companies for Remote Jobs, and Best Organization for Women Empowerment/Women Talent Development.

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Basil D'Souza

President, Editage Korea

Basil D’Souza works with universities and academia to address various challenges faced by Korean authors in their publication journey. Basil has worked with Seoul National University, Yonsei University, Korea University, Hanyang University, KAIST, and UNIST, among others, to train young researchers to navigate the complex publication journey. He is currently the Chair of the External Affairs Committee of the Council of Asian Science Editors (CASE) and a special member of the Korea Council of Science Editors (KCSE). Previously, as the Managing Editor for the Physical Sciences and Engineering editorial divisions of Editage, Basil managed a team of over 30 scientific editors and has edited and reviewed over 1600 manuscripts across different subjects. He has a master’s degree in Nuclear Physics. He frequently does podium presentations and chairs several sessions at International academic conferences dealing with the latest publication and editorial practices in the industry. He has authored two published articles on science communication and dissemination, has been interviewed by Science Editor, and has been featured on CNBC Korea.

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Christine Hu

General Manager, Greater China

Christine serves as the General Manager in Greater China and is responsible for setting up the market strategy, driving business development and commercial activities. Christine comes with a rich experience in marketing, communications, and government relations in the publishing, information service, clinical solution, and pharmaceutical industries. She served as Marketing Head of CACTUS Greater China before she took the current position. Prior to joining CACTUS, Christine has held leadership positions in the R&D-based Pharmaceutical Association Committee and Wolters Kluwer China, and she was also associated in senior roles in China Daily.

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Dinesh Modi

Chief Financial Officer

Dinesh Modi brings with him a rich and hands-on experience of over 19 years across various domains like corporate finance, planning and budgeting, strategy, operations management, fundraising, IT, and M&A. He has worked extensively in the United States of America as well as in India in multiple organizations such as BearingPoint, M. C. Dean, Eros International Media, WNS, Prana Studios, and Modiguard. Having engaged with a range of different business houses, he has helped streamline finance and operational processes, enhancing efficiency and bottom-line. A qualified Chartered Accountant and a Certified Public Accountant (USA), Dinesh brings a healthy mix of knowledge and hands-on skills. Combined with a strong business acumen and an entrepreneurial approach, he possesses exceptional leadership skills. Enthusiastic about life, Dinesh enjoys the process of meeting and discussing new approaches and mentoring people who have ideas and strategies to share.

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Elvira D’souza

President, Cactus Life Sciences

Leading a global team that works with pharma, biotech, and device companies, Elvira plays a key role in helping these organizations communicate their research to various stakeholders. Elvira has a sound understanding of global outsourcing of medical communications services and works extensively with key decision makers within medical affairs teams globally to provide customized solutions that meet their needs. Elvira is extensively involved with medical writing communities, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences from the University of Mumbai and a master’s degree in business administration from Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies in Mumbai, India. She also has an ELS certification from the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences and is an active member of the International Society for Medical Publishing Professionals (ISMPP).

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Makoto Yuasa

Head, Branding, & Country Director, Japan

Makoto heads the Japan operations and is responsible for Branding at CACTUS. Armed with a law degree from Nihon University, Japan, he took a detour into the world of marketing and sales. A significant player in the marketing and promotions of CACTUS’s editorial offerings to researchers in Japan, Makoto has been a key player in handling business development for publication support, education, transcription, translation, and design services. Since 2013, he has served as the Vice President of the executive committee of ScienceTalks, CACTUS’s initiative to build an interactive platform to enable authors and researchers to connect and exchange ideas in real-time. Makoto has a deep understanding of cross-cultural business differences after having lived in Japan, India, and the UK, and he uses this understanding to engage stakeholders and expand CACTUS’s work and imprint.

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Nikesh Gosalia

President - Global Academic & Publisher Relations

Nikesh Gosalia heads the strategic alliances division closely working with societies, publishers, universities, and research institutes for Europe. Graduating with an engineering degree has helped him hone his analytical skills, allowing him to effectively manage large teams in the highly result-oriented financial industry. Nikesh is dedicated to bridging the gap between the East and the West when it comes to research and is passionate about open science and the quick and effective dissemination of science to all stakeholders. Driven by the desire to facilitate the easy consumption of complex science in favourable formats, Nikesh understands the logistics of scholarly publication and author support services. He currently hosts a weekly podcast ‘All Things SciComm’ with influential opinion leaders from academia to discuss various aspects of science communications. When not at work, Nikesh enjoys socializing with people, and has a deep interest in sports and politics.

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Nishchay Shah

Business Head, Emerging Products and CTO

Nishchay Shah oversees technology and innovation across products and brands globally at CACTUS. Experienced in handling tech-budgeting, outsourcing, and global tech recruitment, Nishchay manages a large department with over 250 experts working in product management, software development, UX, DevOps, Digital innovation, and Machine Learning. He focuses on creating, translating, and mobilizing big-picture visions downstream. Nishchay has over 15 years of experience in software development and technology and strives to stay on the bleeding edge of innovation. He has worked in the US for over a decade, and has handled diverse teams in the US, Belarus, Bulgaria, India, and the UK. Having successfully led both B2C and B2B product teams in the past, Nishchay has a thorough understanding of the end-to-end product and technology life cycles. He has a master’s degree from the University of Bridgeport, Connecticut, specializing in Computer Networks and Database Systems.

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Shriram Poonja

Chief Growth Officer

Shriram Poonja began his journey with CACTUS as a designer, and in the 15 years that followed, took charge of expanding business in APAC, ME, and EMEA. Over the years, Shriram has led diverse teams ranging from creative to technical, ensuring success of complex and innovative projects. His deep-rooted curiosity and passion to pursue next-gen innovations help him create effective B2C experiences. Shriram has a deep understanding of geographical and cultural nuances that equip him to forge strong B2B alliances. His rich experience helps him garner scale that directly translates into profitability in all his endeavours. Today, Shriram drives client and business growth across brands and markets. Prior to joining CACTUS, Shriram worked in CMM level 5 organizations where he designed, developed, and implemented multi-channel programs that have created measurable impact on revenues.

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Sourav Dutta

Senior Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development

Sourav Dutta is responsible for strategy roadmap, acquisitions and investments, post-merger integrations, strategic transformation, incubation of new businesses at CACTUS, and competitive insights. His role was pivotal in the acquisition and integration of UNSILO, a Denmark-based AI startup, for CACTUS. Prior to joining CACTUS, Sourav worked across areas like Growth and Entry Strategy, M&A and Post-deal Integration, GTM Strategy, Corporate Performance Management, Supply Chain and Logistics, EBIT/ ROCE Improvement, and Organization Design while working with leading companies like Tata Consumer Products, PwC (Consulting), and Tech Mahindra across India and the US. He is an Electronics and Communication Engineer from the Institute of Technology, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, and has an MBA from IIM Bangalore.

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Vikas Narang

Chief Operating Officer

A global leader with over 18 years of experience, Vikas Narang oversees the global operations of Editage, and spearheads a team of over 700 employees and 2000 freelancers globally. He has a proven track record of exceeding goals while leading teams in highly ambiguous, chaotic, and fast-paced environments. Engaged in driving multiple functions at Editage that include marketing, technology, delivery, customer experience, and business intelligence, Vikas creates routes for transformational growth in all aspects of CACTUS’s business. He has hands-on experience as a leader in some of the world’s leading companies, namely, Google, Amazon, and Texas Instruments, across verticals that include scientific research, e-commerce, and innovation. Vikas has a bachelor's degree in engineering from the Delhi College of Engineering, an MS from IIT Madras, and an MBA from the Indian School of Business.

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Yashmi Pujara

Chief Human Resources Officer

Yashmi Pujara entered field of HR after spending a decade in marketing. Over 15 years at CACTUS, she has played multiple roles in Human Resources and Organization Development and has led initiatives spanning organizational culture, values, talent, performance, reward, and leadership development. She has been instrumental in shaping a unique culture at CACTUS and played an important role in conceptualizing and implementing their people policies, which has brought recognition to the organization through awards like Great Place to Work (ranked #1 among Mid-sized Organizations in 2017), Best Organization for Women Empowerment, among the Top 10 Safe Places to Work, and among the Best Companies for Millennials in 2019.

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