TCS Leadership Change: Rajesh Gopinathan to continue in office till mid-September to guide new CEO-designate Krithivasan

Rajesh Gopinathan, who served as the Managing Director & CEO at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for the last 6 years, announced on Thursday that he will be stepping down from his current managerial position to pursue his other interests. However, he has confirmed that he would continue in office till September 15, 2023 and help the newly appointed CEO Krithivasan and provide transition and support.  

TCS informed that the Board of Directors has considered his request and accepted the same. The Board has nominated K. Krithivasan as the CEO Designate with effect from March 16, 2023. Krithivasan will go through transition with Rajesh Gopinathan and will be appointed as the Managing Director & CEO in the next financial year. 

Gopinathan had taken the reins of TCS from N Chandrasekaran in February 2017. In October 2021, TCS gave a second five-year term to Gopinathan as CEO. 

Under Gopinathan's leadership, TCS' brand value increased by 212 per cent to $45.5 billion in the past two years, as per the Kantar BrandZ India rankings. 

Addressing the press, a day after his resignation, Gopinathan said that TCS has been built on pillars of customer centricity and employees who have always committed and given their best to the company. He further added that he will be available to CEO-designate K Krithivasan 100 per cent during the transition period.  

"I asked myself if not now, will there be a better time, as I have been having discussions with N Chandrasekaran (chairman of Tata Sons) off and on," he said. "I don't expect this transition to be very dramatic," he added.