India’s second largest IT company Infosys on Tuesday said its search for the next chief executive officer is “progressing well”.
The Bengaluru-based company has set a deadline of March 2018 to fill the top vacancy following the abrupt resignation of former CEO Vishal Sikka in August after a spate of allegations pertaining to governance issues by co-founder N R Narayana Murthy.
Infosys has roped in executive search firm Egon Zehnder to assist in global search for the replacement. UB Pravin Rao was named interim-CEO and Managing Director of the company on August 18.
“The process of identifying the next CEO and shareholder consultation outreach have been initiated and are progressing well,” Infosys said in a statement announcing second quarter earnings of the current financial year.
The company had previously stated that it will cast a wide net in the CEO search, and the hunt would encompass Infosys alumni along with internal and external candidates.
On August 25, within hours of taking charge as Infosys non-executive chairman, Nandan Nilekani had told investors that the company had an “open mind” on the global search.
“The goal is to find somebody who has the expertise in managing a global corporation, who can accelerate the execution of our strategy and has strong appreciation of the cultural transformation that is required,” Nilekani had said.
{{/usCountry}}“The goal is to find somebody who has the expertise in managing a global corporation, who can accelerate the execution of our strategy and has strong appreciation of the cultural transformation that is required,” Nilekani had said.
{{/usCountry}}Nilekani had also emphasised then that the candidate would need to possess “strong technology prowess” and the ability to “build and strengthen relationships with all stakeholders”.
There have been reports that officials like interim CEO Pravin Rao, CFO Ranganath D Mavinakere, and BFSI head Mohit Joshi are among the potential contenders for the job.
With Infosys looking at alumni candidates too, other probable contenders could include names like V Balakrishnan (ex-CFO), Mohandas Pai (former CFO and HR Head), Ashok Vemuri (former Americas Head and Board member) and B G Srinivas (former President).