Vishal Sikka to head Infosys

IT major Infosys named Vishal Sikka, former executive board member SAP AG, as its first non-founder Chief Executive Officer.

The Vadodara-born, doctorate in computer science from Stanford, will take over from incumbent S.D. Shibulal on August 1. The company said in an early morning filing to the exchanges on Thursday that company founders N.R. Narayana Murthy and S. Gopalakrishnan will step down as Executive Chairman and Executive Vice-Chairman on June 14. However both co-founders will continue on the board to ensure “smooth transition” till October 10 in non-executive roles, post which Mr. Murthy will be Chairman Emeritus.

Mr. Murthy’s office, which was set up last June when he returned from his retirement to “build a desirable Infosys, will be dissolved effective Saturday. Putting an end to speculation over a larger role for his son Rohan Murthy, Infosys announced that his appointment was co-terminus and he will exit the company on June 14.