Nilekani to personally look into Panaya probe, evades direct questions

Although the newly appointed chairman of IT major Infosys, company’s co-founder Nandan Nilekani, evaded direct questions on making Panaya probe public but assured that he would look into the report personally.

Nilekani, at his first media interaction after he took over as the non-executive chairman, said that he would be looking at the Panaya probe in minutest details and take “suitable action” on that front.

One of the other co-founders at the company, NR Narayana Murthy, over the course of past one week had made it clear that he will settle for nothing less than the Panaya report being made public. However, on his part, Nilekani, didn’t give any assurance on the report being made public.

He also said that along with getting stability and calmness back at the IT doyen, he would also be looking for a suitable candidate leading the company.

He also moved to allay investors and employee concerns, saying he will focus on putting in place a long-term governance structure, bring stability and repair relations with “valued iconic” founder Murthy.

He also hinted towards looking at the ex-Infoscions as prospective CEO and MD of the company. “We are looking at internal candidates, external candidates and what I call as Infosys alumni. They are basically the employees who have worked with us earlier, and then went on to lead various other companies,” he said.

In a bid to settle nerves among the stake holders, Nilekani said that he represents 100% shareholders and has the record of doing things in different environments, consensus building. “I have had a record of doing things successfully,” he said.

Nilekani, who is set to leave for Boston in coming days, jokingly quipped, “I am back here because there was no one else.”
Nilekani was earlier slated to leave for the US for two months but had postponed the trip due to the prevailing fiasco at the IT major.