More management shuffling at Infosys

Subsequent to the resignation of Infosys exec V. Balakrishnan (see Infosys’ Bala jumps ship), executive chairman NR Narayana Murthy has in effect ‘down-selected’ the candidates who are likely to take over the largely superfluous post of CEO when incumbent SD Shibulal steps down, officially scheduled for March 2015.

Effective immediately, business operations will be divided between BG Srinivas and UB Pravin Rao, who are now appointed Presidents reporting to Shibulal. Murthy will also dissolve the Executive Council (does what it says on the tin) from April, assumedly neutering any further dissent in the 'officers' mess'.

Srinivas remains head of European operations, but his ‘day job’ expands to include Financial services, Insurance, Manufacturing, Engineering Services, Energy & Communications, Infosys Public Services, Infosys Lodestone, Strategic Global Sourcing, Marketing and Alliances. Rao takes Retail, Consumer Packaged Goods and Logistics, Life Sciences, Resources & Utilities, Services, Growth Markets, Cloud & Mobility, Quality & Productivity and the Infosys Leadership Institute.

These are both good men and true to the Infosys cause (I know Srinivas personally but not Rao).However, I still can’t help thinking that the best answer for the future leadership of Infosys should come from outside rather than inside the company, and sooner rather than later.

But none of this will matter if in fact Murthy’s end game is to put his son in the top job once he has been suitably groomed (see Infosys goes back for its future). Of all the possible answers, this would absolutely be the worst.