In a surprising turn of events, Wipro CEO Thierry Delaporte has announced his resignation, more than a year ahead of his contracted five-year tenure. The Frenchman’s departure comes amidst growing disquiet within the company, leading to speculation about the reasons behind his sudden exit.
Replacing Delaporte is Srini Pallia, a 32-year veteran of Wipro who will take over as the new CEO and MD with immediate effect. This marks a return to an internal candidate for the top job, after two external CEOs prior to Delaporte.
Wipro chairman Rishad Premji expressed confidence in Pallia’s ability to lead the company during this pivotal moment. Pallia, who joined Wipro in 1992, has held various key roles within the organization, including president of Wipro’s consumer business unit and CEO of the Americas 1 strategic market unit.
Industry experts believe that Pallia’s client-centric approach and strong leadership skills make him the ideal candidate to steer Wipro towards growth and profitability. Phil Fersht, CEO of HfS Research, stated that Delaporte had lost the confidence of the Board and failed to lead the firm in the right direction, resulting in low morale among employees.
Delaporte’s efforts to simplify the company structure and make strategic acquisitions did not yield the expected results, leading to his premature departure. With Pallia now at the helm, Wipro looks towards a new chapter of stability and growth under his leadership.