The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Nilekani hands baton to S. Gopalakrishnan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 14, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Nilekani hands baton to S. Gopalakrishnan

K. Satyamurty

EXALTED COMPANY: N.R. Narayana Murthy (left), Chief Mentor, Infosys; Nandan Nilekani, outgoing CEO and MD, Infosys; and S. Gopalakrishnan, new CEO and MD, at a press conference in Bangalore on Friday. — Photo: G.R.N. SOMASHEKAR

Bangalore: It was again the Infosys way of doing things; finding successors for top management positions, long before the normal retirement age prevalent in major corporates of that size. And news like revenues of U.S. $ 3.1 billion and 44 per cent annual growth was almost pushed to the background when the new team was introduced at the annual new conference here. A company always under the media scanner gave out a positive image.

Chief Mentor and Chairman and one of the co-founders of Infosys Technologies N.R. Narayana Murthy, who introduced the new management team to the media, had set an example. He stepped down from the top slot at the age of 56 and Nandan M. Nilekani, who ceased to be Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director on Friday, is just 52. He, of course, continues as co-Chairman of the Board. S. Gopalakrishnan, who was among the company's senior leaders for several years, was found to be the right person for the CEO's post in a company which has become a weatherwane for India's information technology industry and has placed Bangalore on the global map.

The media was, of course, eager to know if the transition was smooth enough or just a symbolic gesture to show Infosys believed in meritocracy and not in a coterie clinging onto power. The nominations committee of the company had considered the succession issue for almost six months when it became known Mr. Nilekani wanted to clear the way for another person in the CEO's seat. A senior management official revealed there were detailed discussions, especially concerning Mr. Gopalakrishnan's vision for the future and how well it fit with that of the organisation. "There were discussions with Mr. Narayana Murthy too and a consensus was reached, and forwarded to the Board of Directors. The approval came just a few weeks ago,'' the official said.

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