indica News Bureau-
IT services industry body NASSCOM has appointed UB Pravin Rao, chief operating officer, Infosys, as the chairman for the current financial year.
The National Association of Software and Services Companies announced Rao, who was previously vice- chairman of NASSCOM, would succeed Keshav Murugesh, Group CEO, WNS Global Services.
Established in 1988, NASSCOM is a non-profit association of IT and BPO companies in India.
Rao joined Infosys in 1986, according to the company’s website, and has held a number of senior management roles. He was also appointed as the interim CEO and Managing Director (MD) of Infosys, after the company went into a leadership crisis, following Vishal Sikka’s sudden exit in 2017. He has been NASSCOM’s Vice Chairman till date.
“U. B. Pravin Rao is the Chief Operating Officer of Infosys and a Whole-time Director of the Board. He was inducted on January 10, 2014 as a member of the Board. He is the member of Corporate Social Responsibility Committee of the Board. As the Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Rao has overall strategic and operational responsibility for the entire portfolio of the Company’s offerings. Mr. Rao oversees the key functions of global delivery and business enablement. He has over 31 years of industry experience,” said Infosys website.
Rekha M Menon, Chairman and Senior Managing Director, Accenture in India, would be the Vice-Chairperson for the business physique.
“These are challenging times for the Indian IT industry, as we deal with an unprecedented situation. However, the Indian IT industry has, time and again, proven its resilience and I have no doubt that this time too we will emerge stronger and wiser. As we all adjust to a new normal, I hope to continue the great work that NASSCOM has been doing in transforming the industry and making it relevant in this digital era. I believe that our industry, more than ever, needs a focused approach towards building resilience, upskilling its workforce and contributing to our country’s growth, and I’m excited to be a part of this journey with NASSCOM”, Pravin Rao stated in a press release.
The newly appointed management, together with President Debjani Ghosh, will assist the business physique obtain its 2025 imaginative and prescient for the business.
According to a profile by ET, Rao has held a number of senior leadership roles including Head of Infrastructure Management Services, Delivery Head for Europe, and Head of Retail, Consumer Packaged Goods, Logistics and Life Sciences. Rao holds a degree in electrical engineering from Bangalore University. Rao, 58, who is married to an architect, was born in Mysuru into a traditional, middle-class family. When he joined Infosys in August 1986, most of his family was shocked by his decision to join a firm that had barely 30 employees—especially since Rao had other offers from firms such as BHEL Ltd, Maruti Udyog and NTPC.
Before joining Infosys, he was interviewed by Murthy and another co-founder, N.S. Raghavan
