Kedar Benegal

Kedar Benegal has a diverse work experience spanning various industries. Kedar started their career as a Robotics Engineer, designing and implementing robotics solutions for automotive companies. Kedar then worked as a Sr. Consultant at Deloitte, supporting strategy development for a global aerospace and defense technology company.

In 2002, Kedar joined Circuit City as a Sr. Analyst, where they provided strategy development, analysis, and financial modeling support for major strategic initiatives. Kedar then moved to RadioShack, where they held roles as a Category Manager/Buyer for Apple iPods & Accessories and later as a Sr. Manager for Corporate Development and Strategy, driving key initiatives focused on expanding RadioShack's presence in the cell phone/mobile space.

After their time at RadioShack, Kedar joined Sabre Corporation, where they held various roles including Principal and Director in Corporate Strategy. Kedar also worked as the Director of Travelocity Global and was involved in the development of a hotel-only Online Travel Agency called AllHotels.

Kedar then founded and led a mobile location-based services technology start-up called KeepTrax, Inc. The company initially focused on location context solutions for travel companies but evolved into a field-force tracking and optimization solution, growing to over 2 million active users.

In 2018, Kedar joined Mentoring Minds as the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Product Development, responsible for customer acquisition, engagement, and product roadmap, with a focus on driving digital transformation.

Currently, Kedar works at Apple Leisure Group as the Managing Director of Southwest Vacations. Kedar leads the team responsible for the exclusive vacation package program of Southwest Airlines, with full accountability for P&L performance, growth strategy, customer experience, marketing, revenue management, and broader operations. Kedar successfully turned around the business during the pandemic, achieving new record growth and profit in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Throughout their career, Kedar has demonstrated a strong track record of leadership, strategic thinking, and driving business growth and transformation.

Kedar Benegal earned a Bachelor of Engineering Science in Mechanical Engineering from Western University in 1996. Later, from 2000 to 2002, they pursued a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with a focus on Finance, Marketing, and Operations from Carnegie Mellon University - Tepper School of Business.