Improving the existing business, entering into new avenues of software development and working with start-ups would be some of the priorities of Vishal Sikka, the new CEO and MD of Infosys, who took charge on Friday.
“We have to continue to be better at what we do...continue to improve the business,” the first non-founder CEO of Infosys told employees on a webcast posted on the company website. “We have to augment that with some new great things... New kind of amazing projects in the industry, where software is making its way for the first time.”
Sikka added that the company looks forward to work with start-ups. “We have a $100-million (`607.7-crore) fund for start-ups that our shareholders and board have approved. I want it to be a great amplifier for start-ups.”
He said he wants to lay out directions, “but to do it in a way that is respectful to where we come from... because the company has reached this point through a lot of hard work by its founders”.
Sikka invoked Rabindranath Tagore’s thoughts about ‘servant leadership’ to drive home his point on management style. “When communication and computing technology have flattened the world and made everything accessible, to assume that some leader has more ability, knowledge or intellect to solve some problem than others is nonsense. This idea that some group of people sitting in a corner office has some insight into where we need to go… It has to be done collectively.”
{{/usCountry}}Sikka invoked Rabindranath Tagore’s thoughts about ‘servant leadership’ to drive home his point on management style. “When communication and computing technology have flattened the world and made everything accessible, to assume that some leader has more ability, knowledge or intellect to solve some problem than others is nonsense. This idea that some group of people sitting in a corner office has some insight into where we need to go… It has to be done collectively.”
{{/usCountry}}In a mail to 1,60,000 plus employees, he said to lead Infosys is an opportunity of a lifetime. “The most efficient way for us to get ahead is to collectively chart out the best course and move as one cohesive unit,” he wrote.