Behind the Numbers: A Candid Q&A with Druva’s New CFO, Jagroop Bal

Get to know the man steering Druva’s financial helm—an industry leader driven by growth, strategy, and above all, teamwork.

Welcome to the Team, Jagroop Bal!

What does it take to guide a global data security leader to new heights? If you ask Druva's newest Chief Financial Officer, Jagroop Bal, the answer is simple—"Strategy, focused execution, and people." 

In this insightful sit-down, Jagroop opens up about his vision for Druva, what excites him most about joining the team, and why he believes this company is primed for sustained accelerated growth. Spoiler alert: he's energized by Druva’s upward trajectory, and after reading this, you will be, too. 

1. What brought you to Druva? 

Jagroop: There’s so much to love about Druva, but four things really sealed the deal for me.

First, the market opportunity. Druva operates in a massive Total Addressable Market (TAM) that’s rapidly expanding. The demand for secure, cloud-native solutions is only growing, and Druva is uniquely positioned in this space. 

Second, the product portfolio. Druva’s solutions aren't just leading in the industry—they’re defining it. This is a solid lineup of offerings, built to solve real-world problems, and that's exciting to be a part of. 

Third, the financial potential. The company has a great foundation with clear paths to accelerating growth and making that growth sustainable for the long term. 

Finally, the people. During all my discussions, I spoke with incredible minds—from the leadership team to the board of directors. They’re laser-focused on execution, which gets me fired up about what we can accomplish together. 

2. What’s your vision for Druva over the next 12-24 months? 

Jagroop: It’s about driving what I call “durable growth.” That means not just rapidly accelerating growth—which we are all aiming to do—but also building a foundation that allows us to sustain it. 

For me, this involves focusing on both organic growth, leveraging our newer products like security and AI, and selectively pursuing inorganic opportunities when they make sense. 

Everything comes back to creating a business that is financially sound, scalable, and prepared for the next big leap in its evolution.

3. You’ve had a stellar career. What are some accomplishments you’re most proud of? 

Jagroop: Thank you! My time at VMware is one chapter I’m particularly proud of. During my tenure, I got to work on scaling the business to nearly $14 billion in revenue—while transitioning it from an on-premises license model to a SaaS subscription model. 

I also had the opportunity to lead VMware’s spin-off from Dell Technologies and managed some very complex financial transactions, including two special dividends worth over $11 billion each, transformative M&A  and first ever public debt raise ($4 billion). 

The common thread in all of these experiences was understanding where the business needed to go and aligning the entire organization to that vision. This is something I’m eager to bring to Druva. 

4. What are you prioritizing in your first six months? 

Jagroop: It’s all about three things for me right now—assess, plan, and execute. 

• First, I need to gain a deep understanding of Druva—the business, the operations, and the people—so I’ll spend my early days meeting with teams across the organization. 

• From there, I'll develop a plan to build a world-class finance function and financial strategy that not only supports but drives accelerated growth. 

• By the six-month mark, my goal is to have clear, actionable steps in place to help us efficiently scale. 

5. What makes you tick as a leader? 

Jagroop: To me, finance is so much more than numbers—it’s about being a true business partner. 

I want the finance team to work hand-in-hand with every department—whether it’s sales, product, or go-to-market teams. Together, we can pinpoint key drivers for growth and ensure Druva is set up for success in the short term and long term. 

I also deeply value transparency and collaboration. No one achieves greatness in isolation. For me, it’s about building relationships and lifting each other up to achieve our goals. 

6. What excites you the most about Druva’s future? 

Jagroop: Druva is at the forefront of SaaS data security innovation. That alone is exciting! But even more, I believe we have untapped potential. 

Yes, the market is competitive, but that also means it’s filled with opportunity. The demand for our fully managed data security solution is only going to grow, and I’m thrilled to be in a position to help guide Druva through this next phase of growth. 

The question I always ask myself is, “Why can’t we grow faster?” And I’m determined to work with the team here to make sure there’s nothing standing in our way. 

7. Who has shaped your leadership style? 

Jagroop: I’ve been fortunate to work with some incredible leaders and mentors. At VMware, I learned so much from impactful leaders like Pat Gelsinger, Raghu Raghuram as well as the  Board of Directors. And on the finance side, I had the privilege of working closely with Zane Rowe, one of the most respected CFOs in the industry. 

Their mentorship taught me the importance of strategy, focus, and the ability to take complex ideas and distill them into clear, actionable frameworks that anyone in the organization can rally behind.

What’s Next? 

At just “day 10” on the job (or “9.5,” as Jagroop likes to joke), Druva’s new CFO has hit the ground running. With his impressive track record, vision for scalable growth, and passion for partnering with teams across the organization, it’s clear Druva is in great hands. Welcome to the team, Jagroop!