Kailash Bijayananda, chief operating officer of global technology firm Leapfrog, has been elected chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Nepal (AmCham Nepal). The leadership transition took place during the chamber’s fourth Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Kathmandu, which also formed a new executive committee for the 2026–27 term.

Bijayananda, who previously served as vice chairman, brings nearly two decades of experience in the technology sector. Over the years, he has played a key role in scaling operations across the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Nepal, giving him extensive exposure to cross-border business and global markets.

The executive committee includes Akash Golchha of Ford, Manish Thapa of Xuno, Samarth Mogha representing Mogha Energy, Sneh Rajbhandari of Bottlers Nepal, Suraksha Hamal of Pathao Nepal, and Sachin Karanjit of Deerhold. Outgoing US Ambassador to Nepal Dean R. Thompson attended the AGM, accompanied by newly arrived Deputy Chief of Mission Scott Urbom and other senior embassy officials.

In his remarks, Thompson underscored the strengthening partnership between the US Embassy and AmCham Nepal, describing the chamber as an increasingly important platform for commercial diplomacy. He highlighted the “transformative opportunities” created by the MCC Nepal Compact, noting that it has encouraged a steady inflow of American companies into the Nepali market.