Next up? Shibulal leads Infy changes

Infosys Technologies' chief operating officer SD Shibulal on Thursday announced major changes in the company's organisation, halving the number of business focus areas to four in the most clear signal yet that he was set to take over as CEO from S. "Kris" Gopalakrishnan.

Infosys Technologies' chief operating officer SD Shibulal on Thursday announced major changes in the company's organisation, halving the number of business focus areas to four in the most clear signal yet that he was set to take over as CEO from S. "Kris" Gopalakrishnan.

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Shibulal's e-mail to employees came less than ten days before a panel is due to pick the next chief to run India's second biggest software company. HT had first reported last Tuesday on the overhaul that comes in the backdrop of results that disappointed the markets and worries over leadership transition.

In an unexpected turn of events TV Mohandas Pai, human resources director and board member resigned from the company last Friday, triggering reports that Pai had quit the company after being passed over in favour of Shibulal on the ground that he was a co-founder and senior in the company.

However, both Pai and Gopalakrishnan have strongly denied such reports, though Pai indicated that he personally does not necessarily put seniority ahead as a criteria.

Infosys now has four verticals--financial services and insurance (FSI); manufacturing; energy, utilities, communications and services (ECS); and retail, consumer products, logistics and life sciences.

Ashok Vemuri, B.G. Srinivas, Prasad Thrikutam and U.B. Pravin respectively will head each of these verticals.

"Each of these leaders will be reaching out to you shortly to outline our vision and plans," Shibulal said.