Vishal Sikka is Infy's first non-founding CEO

Ending all speculation, Infosys, India’s second largest IT services company on Thursday announced Vishal Sikka, the former chief technology officer and member of the executive board at enterprise software maker SAP, as its new CEO & MD. 

The appointment of Sikka, who will also be inducted as a whole-time director of the board, will be effective from June 14, the Bangalore-based company said in a release.

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With this, Infosys has made all the key changes that are expected to help Sikka operate independently. The company also said that Murthy, the co-founder of the company who returned as the executive chairman in June last year, has decided to step aside.

He will now be chairman emeritus, whereas K V Kamath, the former chairman and now lead independent director, will become the non-executive chairman of the board with effect from October 11, 2014. 

Murthy along with Kris Gopalakrishnan, now executive vice chairman at Infosys, will voluntarily step down on June 14, 2014.

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However, they will continue on the board till October 10, 2014, in order to facilitate a smooth transition of responsibilities, the company said. S D Shibulal, the present CEO & MD of the company, will step down on July 31, 2014. 

With this, the company also said that the office of the executive chairman will be dissolved with effect from June 14, 2014, and Rohan Murty, executive chairman to the chairman, will leave the company with effect from the same day.

Rohan Murty’s role was co-terminus with that of Narayana Murthy.

Besides, the remaining members of the chairman’s office will take up other responsibilities in the company.

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The company has promoted U B Pravin Rao, currently president and whole-time director, as the chief operating officer.

This appointment will be effective from June 14, 2014. Infosys had long discontinued the role of COO after Shibulal took over as the CEO of the company. 

Along with Rao, the company also announced the elevation of 12 senior leaders to the position of executive vice president with additional responsibilities.

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Snapshots

• June 14, 2014: Former SAP AG executive Vishal Sikka to be inducted as a whole-time director of the board and CEO & MD (designate)
• June 14, 2014: N R Narayana Murthy and S Gopalakrishnan to step down as executive chairman and executive vice chairman, respectively, but, they will continue on the board as the non-executive chairman and non-executive vice chairman, respectively, till October 10, 2014
• June 14, 2014: Executive Chairman’s (Murthy) office will be dissolved. Rohan Murty will also leave the company on the same day
• June 14, 2014: U B Pravin Rao, president and whole-time director, to become chief operating officer
• July 31, 2014: S D Shibulal will step down as CEO & MD and also from the board
• July 31, 2014: Srinath Batni, whole-time director, will also step down from the board
• August 1, 2014: Sikka will formally take over as CEO & MD from Shibulal after one and a half months of transition
• October 11, 2014: Murthy will be designated as chairman emeritus. K V Kamath will become the non-executive chairman of the board