Kris Gopalakrishnan

Senapathy "Kris" Gopalakrishnan

Gopalakrishnan at the World Economic Forum on India in 2012
Born 5 April 1955
Trivandrum, Kerala, India
Education M.Sc. (Physics)
M. Tech. (Computer Science)
Alma mater IIT, Madras
Occupation Executive Vice Chairman, Infosys
Years active 1981 – present
Net worth Increase US$ 1.35 billion (March 2013)[1]

Senapathy Gopalakrishnan, popularly known as Kris Gopalakrishnan, is the executive vice chairman (former co-chairman) of Infosys, a global consulting and IT services company based in India. He is also one of its seven founders.[2] He was elected as the President of India's apex industry chamber 'Confederaton of Indian Industry (CII)' for the year 2013-14.

Early days

Kris Gopalakrishnan was born in Trivandrum on April 5, 1955. He spent his school days in Government Model Boys Higher Secondary School, Thycaud, Trivandrum.

Kris obtained an M.Sc. (Physics) in 1977 and M. Tech. (Computer Science) in 1979, both from IIT, Madras. He started his career as a software engineer with Patni Computers, Mumbai in 1979.

Career at Infosys

In 1981, Gopalakrishnan co-founded Infosys with six other entrepreneurs. His initial years at Infosys included management of design, development, implementation and support of information systems for clients in the U.S. consumer products industry. From 1987 to 1994, Gopalakrishnan headed the technical operations of KSA/Infosys (a joint venture between Infosys and KSA in Atlanta, Georgia).

In 2007, Kris took over as CEO and Managing Director of Infosys Technologies Limited from Nandan Nilekani. Kris previously served as Chief Operating Officer (since April 2002), and as the President and Joint Managing Director (since August 2006). His responsibilities included Customer Services, Technology, Investments and Acquisitions. In August 2011, he handed over the responsibility of CEO and MD to his colleague and another co-founder of Infosys, S D Shibulal. He was later appointed Executive Vice-Chairman of Infosys Board. He would serve as Non-executive Vice Chairman of Infosys Board from June 14 till October 10, 2014.[3]

Positions

Awards

Civilian awards: In 2011, Government of India awarded him with Padma Bhushan which is India's third highest civilian honor.[5]

Philanthropy

Kris has contributed Rs. 225 Crore (40 Million USD) to the Pure Sciences to develop a Centre for Brain Research at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. It's also one of the single-largest donations the 105-year-old institute has received from an individual.[6]

References

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