Some part of new Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka ' s early life was spent in Vadodara. That's all that he shares with new Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Yet the two leading men in their own right share much more in common than the just a place. Sikka was brought in by none other than N R N Murthy, who has showed an attached detachment unlike the first family of Indian politics. Read on to know why ...
Before delving into Sikka and Modi, a few words on Murthy. Maverick. Entrepreneur. Monk. He came back when he saw his baby sinking. Can't fault him on that. Improved margins by 200 bps. Cut flab. Retained the people he wanted. Passed the mantle. Left.
Murthy isn't a Steve Jobs. He never set out to be one. He wanted to give Infosys to somebody who would treat the company like it was to be run. Emotions aside. The job of an enterprise is to enhance stakeholder value ethically and financially. He now goes. Gandhis unfortunately have never been able to do that. As Murthy walks into the sun set (for the second time), he can like a father from a middle class family, be happy to hang up his boots. The successor is in place. You have to respect him for that.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT TIMING
Sikka and Modi have been anointed as chiefs in about the same time. However, the sands of time don't bind them.
Outsiders - The real Gujarati and the fake Punjabi were immediately labelled as 'outsiders' when they came. Modi lacked the national exposure while the former SAP executive lacks the edge to leaf a services company like Infosys, critics have jumped.
The respective chief executives of the Indian economy and the pioneer of making codes into a money making machine actually have an advantage for being out of the system. Modi's proven administrative abilities as a chief minister are potent as Sikka's being part of a software company. At Infosys, which often deals with implementing products of software companies, Sikka is actually their man on the 'inside'.
Both Modi and Sikka are keen on building their own team. To be honest, if the people they replaced were good...that would not put the newbies outta business. Setting up their own core group and the freedom to do that is what will define their successes.
SPEAKERS WHO ARE GOOD LISTENERS
Sikka, a veritable tech guru, is known for being a cohesive force. Like a glue. A major reason is that he listens. He never has all the answers. To all problems. But the intent to solve the problem is clear. The world where Infosys was born in 1981 is very different in 2014. The company is going through a midlife crisis. Sikka isn't the new fling but marriage material. If Infosys is not to be sold in parts to the highest bidder, Sikka is the only real chance to do so and fast.
NaMo 's ability to piece together people from different walks of life and ideologies is already a proof of concept. Amit Shah was his choice. I am no fan of Modi. But we have to admit he has been a fantastic leader so far. Cynics listen to him in rapt attention. That's half the job done.
RESPECTED BY OLD GUARD, LOVED BY NEW
Sikka who would be 50 in three years is not by any measure young. Ditto for Modi who is in his sixties. Yet age doesn't matter for them. While Sikka has clearly the blessings of Murthy who built Infosys from scratch, Modi earned his title by proving his mettle where it matters. Critics can argue Nilekani, Kris and Shibulal were also selected by Murthy. Shibulal was a lesser successful experiment to say the least. What guarantee is there that Sikka is not the "old fool's" historical mistake? Many ask. Breaking a tradition makes little sense in a deeply religious country like India, they add.
This can't be farther from the truth. When BJP and Infosys sought to select their future leaders, they went for performance and pedigree. It's that easy. Look at the alternatives inside their institutions and the bias is clear. Sikka is global talent respected and yearned by all and the Sundry. Modi, as I have mentioned earlier, is an experienced campaigner who has brought glory almost always. Both now would lead two entities that are massive yet open to change.
The rhetorics don't impress India and Infosys anymore. It's time to deliver. Sikka like Modi are the pizza guy at your door.
Till the next time.
Feel free to drop in your views. Look forward to it.
