Infosys drafts in former Capgemini exec as CEO

Tech services giant hires Salil Parekh as chief exec after summer of dramatic boardroom exits

Technology services firm Infosys has hired an ex-Capgemini executive to lead the firm after former CEO Vishal Sikka dramatically stepped down in August.

Salil Parekh will begin his tenure as the Indian giant's new CEO on 2 January, replacing interim CEO Pravin Rao who will return to his post as COO following the appointment.

"We are delighted to have [Parekh] joining as the CEO and MD of Infosys. He has nearly three decades of global experience in the IT services industry, [and] he has a strong track record of executing business turnarounds and managing very successful acquisitions. The Board believes that he is the right person to lead Infosys at this transformative time in our industry. The Board is also grateful to Pravin for his leadership during this period of transition."

Infosys claims it underwent a "comprehensive global search effort" for the firm's new leader, claiming that Parekh was the top choice from a pool of "highly qualified" candidates.

The new chief exec spent more than 25 years at Capgemini where he served as CEO of global financial services and held a place on the firm's executive board.

In August, reports emerged that Infosys' founder had led a boardroom coup which saw CEO Sikka and three board members abruptly depart from the firm. At the time, Sikka claimed that he had been victim of "unrelenting, baseless, malicious and increasingly personal attacks" from founder Narayana Murthy.