With CogNet you will Increase efficiency, reduce labor costs, start new projects quickly, focus on your core business
John Sansoucie
Chairman & CEO
John woke up in India one night in 2004 and started this CogNet adventure using his 27 years of experience in TPA, HRO and PEO. John has implemented and set up four global service operations and began actively managing human resource businesses in the India market in 2004.
Prior to founding CogNet John served in several senior executive positions at leading HR Outsourcing firms including CFO at Cloudmills, PeopleStrategy, US Personnel, VP of Finance and Product Management at Advantec, and Group Controller for a division of Dun & Bradstreet.
John is a graduate of the University of Missouri with a degree in Finance. He also has an MBA from University of South Florida.
Saleem Yusuff
Managing Director
Saleem is the co-founder and Managing Director of CogNet. Saleem’s responsibility is to drive strategic offerings delivering business value to clients including technology enablement. With over 25 years in the business service industry, he brings with him functional expertise in HR, Finance and technology.
Prior to CogNet Saleem served as Director of IT for a leading HR Service company and helped oversee the offshore operations. In his previous tenure with Brigade Corporation, Saleem was responsible for managing large scale technology infrastructure projects spanning multiple data centres.
Saleem holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science Engineering from the University of Madras, India. He has completed the General Management Programme for Business Excellence at the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode, a Postgraduate Certificate in Cybersecurity from MIT, a Certificate in Digital Transformation in HR from the London School of Economics, and a Certificate in Digital Transformation and AI from Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Jeff DeLoach
President & COO
Jeff could be referred to as the Father of CogNet having hatched the HR global services center over 17 years ago. He has returned home to help build on that vision in partnership with the outstanding team that has made it what is today.
Jeff has over 25 years of experience in the BPO, HRO, and Technology space. Previously he served as CEO of US Personnel, CEO of QCI an international hardware and services provider. He has also served as Managing Partner for TDG, Inc. a global advisory and services company that helped develop and scale one of the largest HR Service companies in China.
Jeff is a graduate of Baylor University with a degree in Political Science.
Sampath Kumar
Chief People Officer (CPO)
Sampath Kumar is a results-driven leader with over 25 years of extensive experience in US HR and Financial Services. As the Vice President of Operations at CogNet Sampath is responsible for strategic planning, service delivery, and optimizing the company’s operational processes. His profound expertise in US HR practices has been instrumental in ensuring that CogNet's operations are seamlessly aligned with industry standards and consistently exceed client expectations.
Before ascending to his current role, Sampath held significant positions, most notably as General Manager of Operations. In this capacity, he managed complex financial operations and oversaw payroll processing for large-scale teams, demonstrating his ability to lead with precision and foresight.
Sampath holds a Master of Business Administration in Operations Management and a bachelor’s degree in commerce.
Leah Cowperthwaite
Chief Revenue Officer
Leah Cowperthwaite is a strategic and relationship-focused leader with extensive experience in channel sales, business development, and revenue growth within the PEO and employee benefits industry. As the Chief Revenue Officer at CogNet, Leah is responsible for driving revenue growth, expanding business opportunities, and strengthening relationships with clients and industry partners. Her deep understanding of the PEO landscape and ability to connect people, businesses, and opportunities bring a strong growth perspective to CogNet.
Before joining CogNet, Leah served as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Ready to Fund, where she focused on expanding business opportunities, developing industry connections, and supporting growth through channel sales. Her experience working across the PEO and employee benefits space has given her a strong understanding of the industry and the importance of building trusted, long-term business relationships.
Leah holds a bachelor's degree in communication from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Natasha
Director of Client Services
Natasha is a versatile business leader with nearly two decades of experience across client services, finance and accounting, payroll, payroll tax, and PEO operations. She brings a strong client-focused perspective, along with experience in building high-performing teams, strengthening client relationships, and leading initiatives focused on process improvement and operational excellence.
Prior to joining CogNet, Natasha served in several leadership roles at TriNet within Tax Operations. As Director of Client Services at CogNet, Natasha works closely with clients and internal teams to deliver exceptional service, foster strong partnerships, and develop practical solutions to complex business challenges. Her expertise in PEO tax reporting, payroll tax, accounting, and client services enables her to support clients with a well-rounded understanding of both strategic and operational needs.
Natasha is a graduate of Clemson University with a degree in Finance. She also holds an MBA from California State University and is a Certified Payroll Professional (CPP).
Arun Kumar Damodaran
Senior Director – Operations
Arun Kumar is a seasoned operations leader with extensive experience in the US HR services industry. As Senior Director of Operations at CogNet, he provides strategic and operational leadership across multiple service portfolios.
His responsibilities include service delivery, workforce planning, performance management, quality, governance, client engagement, and operational scalability. Arun has played a key role in building high-performing teams, strengthening delivery standards, developing cross-functional capabilities, and aligning operational performance with client expectations and business objectives.
With a strong focus on data-driven management, Arun champions process standardization, automation, leadership development, and continuous improvement to enhance operational efficiency, strengthen client relationships, and support sustainable business growth.