Yahoo! India Managing Director George Zacharias has quit the company to pursue his own entrepreneurial interests. "To become an entrepreneur was my long-term dream," he was quoted as saying.

Zacharias joined the Internet company in January 2006.

"Yahoo! India has been growing at a robust pace and the journey has been both challenging and rewarding," he said.

"This decision (to resign) has been a tough one," Zacharias added, but noted that he is leaving a "well-oiled, strong leadership team".

He would continue to work with the leadership team over the next four-six weeks to ensure smooth transition, Yahoo! India said in a statement. Vice-President, International Emerging Markets, Keith Nilsson, who is based out of Singapore, would step in to head Yahoo! India, it said.

"As India continues to be a focus for Yahoo, we are excited about the aggressive pace that we have set ourselves to realise the enormous opportunities in this market, and grow the business both organically and inorganically," Nilsson said in the statement.