New TCS CEO Krithivasan's Plans for Growth and Innovation in the Post-Pandemic World

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India's largest IT services provider, has recently announced a leadership change that will take effect from June 1, 2023. K Krithivasan, who is currently the President and Global Head of the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) Business Group at TCS, will succeed Rajesh Gopinathan as the new CEO and Managing Director of the company.

Krithivasan is a TCS veteran who joined the company in 1989 and has held various roles in delivery, customer relationship management, large program management and sales. He has been instrumental in driving the growth and transformation of the BFSI business unit, which accounts for over 40% of TCS' revenue. He has also helped key clients with digital transformation, change management cycle acceleration, achieving value beyond cost optimization, and establishing IT program governance.

Krithivasan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Madras and a Master’s Degree in Industrial and Management Engineering from IIT Kanpur. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of TCS Iberoamerica, TCS Ireland and the supervisory board of TCS Technology Solutions AG.

As he gears up to take up the top job at TCS, what are his plans and priorities for the company? How will he steer TCS in a post-pandemic world where technology is playing a critical role in every industry and domain? What are the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for him and his team?

In this blog post, we will try to answer these questions based on his past achievements, his vision for the future, and his views on various topics related to the IT industry, and recent statements.

Krithivasan's past achievements

Krithivasan has been leading the BFSI business unit since 2015 and has been responsible for planning and executing growth strategies, improving financial performance, building deep customer relationships and mindshare as well as market positioning. Under his leadership, the BFSI business unit has achieved several milestones such as:

• Winning several large deals from global banks and financial institutions such as ABN AMRO Bank, Deutsche Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Prudential Financial, etc.
• Launching innovative solutions and platforms such as TCS BaNCS Cloud for Banking, TCS BaNCS Cloud for Insurance, TCS Optumera AI-powered Merchandising Solution, etc.
• Expanding into new markets and geographies such as Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Africa
• Acquiring new capabilities and competencies through strategic partnerships and acquisitions such as W12 Studios (a digital design studio), BridgePoint Group (a US-based management consulting firm), etc.
• Enhancing employee engagement and retention through various initiatives such as BFSI Academy (a learning platform), BFSI Champions League (a gamified recognition program), etc.

Krithivasan's vision for the future

Krithivasan has a clear vision for the future of TCS and how he wants to take it to the next level of growth and excellence. In his media interactions after his appointment as the CEO-designate, he has shared some of his thoughts on how he plans to achieve his goals. Some of them are:

• Leveraging TCS' core strengths such as customer-centricity, innovation, agility, quality and execution excellence
• Focusing on organic growth as well as exploring inorganic opportunities to expand into new domains and markets
• Investing in emerging technologies such as cloud, artificial intelligence, blockchain, internet of things, etc. and creating differentiated offerings for customers
• Developing talent and capabilities across all levels of the organization and fostering a culture of learning and collaboration
• Driving social responsibility and sustainability initiatives through TCS' purpose-led programs such as Adult Literacy Program, goIT Program, Ignite My Future Program, etc.

Krithivasan's views on various topics

Krithivasan has also expressed his opinions on various topics related to the IT industry and its trends. Some of them are:

On digital transformation: "Digital transformation is not just about technology adoption but also about business model innovation. It is about creating new sources of value for customers by leveraging data, analytics and insights. It is also about enhancing customer experience by providing personalized, seamless and omnichannel interactions."

On cloud adoption: "Cloud adoption is not just about cost savings but also about agility, scalability and resilience. It is about enabling faster time-to-market, better performance and higher availability."

During a media call following his appointment announcement, Krithivasan stated that he has no plans to implement significant modifications to TCS's structure or strategy in the immediate future. He expressed his intention to maintain TCS's fundamental values and culture, which have played a crucial role in the company's achievements.

With more than 34 years of experience, Krithivasan is considered a visionary leader and a TCS veteran. He has been accountable for devising and implementing growth strategies, enhancing financial performance, fostering strong customer relationships and market positioning. Additionally, Krithivasan has played a crucial role in nurturing a culture of innovation and excellence at TCS while also developing talent within the organization.