JOIN USWith the exit of Vishal Sikka as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Infosys on Friday, after months of a verbal duel with the promoter shareholders, the focus has now shifted to finding his successor.
Among the probable candidates, U B Pravin Rao, who has been appointed interim CEO, is likely to emerge a strong contender for the top post.
If selected as the permanent CEO and MD, 55-year-old Mysuru-born and Bengaluru-educated Rao will become the third Kannadiga to occupy the top post at the country’s second largest IT services company.
Rao, an engineering graduate from a middle class family, who joined Infosys in 1986, is the front runner because of his illustrious track record spanning three decades in various roles and loyalty to both promoter shareholders and the board, said an analyst.
“The board will have to keep him at the helm as he is in good terms with founder promoters and he also knows the culture of the company very well. Besides his soft spoken and quiet manner, Rao’s delivery and operations expertise will make him an ideal candidate for the driver’s seat,” the analyst said.