T V Mohandas Pai, the former board member and Head of HR & Administration at Infosys lost out in the race for the top post when the company weighed S D Shibulal over him in 2011. Subsequently, Pai who had spent almost 17 years at Infosys left the company expressing his displeasure. In an interview with Bibhu Ranjan Mishra, he says while the external candidates have now an equal chance for the top post now, the company should ideally go for an internal candidate. Edited excerpts:
Why, according to you, could be the reasons behind Shibulal's desire to retire from the company ahead of his retirement?
You need a new CEO in place for the next financial year. And the CEO has to come before the financial year so that he can prepare a budget and drive performance. If it happens in the middle of the year, that year will be spoilt. Thus Infosys is planning to complete the search of the person, may be before December, so that there is enough time for the next year's budget. That is my interpretation.
Do you think that a plan is already in place and Infosys is just completing the formalities?
Yeah, they are going through the process which is very good. Because Murthy had sought three years to bring back the company to shape. Of that, one year is already over. And this year, they will finish the search for the new CEO which means only one more year will be left for the CEO to left his impact.
What is your opinion about the timing of the exercise? The company is yet to start showing consistent growth performance?
I think it is the right time. The company requires the change in leadership. That's what the board has decided. So they want to do the process and finish it now.
What is your opinion about the internal candidates at Infosys?
I think the company has got an extraordinary number of people of high quality. They must call the top 15-20 people; discuss with them and make them present their cases, and then find out whether they are good. It is good to do that process and give opportunity for people within the company. But they should meet the next layer of people, not just the two presidents. Please remember, a company is run by the next layer of the people, not by the people at the top because they do the day-to-day works.
Don't you think in the current structure, the selection looks completely polarized to only two senior people?
They have spoken about the two, but I am sure the board will look at many more people because they are extraordinary people there; because the shareholders and analysts are going to question them.
Given that do you think the chance of an external candidate joining as the CEO is quite remote?
My own estimate is there is an equal chance for an external candidate to become the CEO as it is the case for internal candidate. I think there is a 50:50 chance.
Why do you think that an internal person is best suited for the CEO position?
I am biased in favour of internal people. Because, I think the company has got very good people and they must be given the authority and power to run the company under the mentorship of Murthy. I am sure Murthy will take a good decision.
But the top leadership layer of the company has almost depleted with the exit of many senior people in the recent past?
It is sad part that lots of good people have left. Ashok Vemuri has become CEO of another company and he is doing well. Bala (V Balakrisnnan) has left. Kakal (Chandrasekhar Kakal) has left.
Do you think that Murthy is grooming his son Rohan Murty for the top post?
No. Murthy will run a very transparent and open process because he knows it very clearly that he can't afford another mistake. He has made a mistake earlier. He is very clear on this, I think. Because he is a great icon of the industry, he wants to leave good legacy behind. So he will make a genuine and good search. You can trust him.
In the future, starting from august this year, a few board members are going to retire. If Infosys makes you an offer to join the board, would you consider it?
I always said that it is a mistake to call back anybody who has left the company excluding Murthy. Murthy is an exception because he is the chairman; he is an icon and inspirational figure. It would be mistake to call back anybody else. They require a new set of people, younger people to build the team for the next 15-20 years. So let's not repeat the mistake.
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