Infosys announces new Executive Council to frame business strategies

Software major Infosys Technologies on Saturday announced composition of new Executive Council (EC), a high level body that frames its business strategies.

The EC will include the executive board, current EC members, heads of key business units and strategic business enabler units.

"It gives me great pleasure to announce the new executive council of Infosys. The new EC is a group of highly competent professionals who would closely work with the Board in formulating business strategy and framing policies for the organisation," Infosys CEO & MD S Gopalakrishnan said.

"This is one of the most significant announcements that will shape the Infosys of tomorrow," he added.

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The members of the EC are: S Gopalakrishnan, S D Shibulal COO, Srinath Batni, Director and Head, Delivery Excellence, V Balakrishnan, CFO, Ashok Vemuri, Senior VP and Head Banking and Capital Markets and Strategic Global Sourcing, the release said.

Other members are B G Srinivas Senior V-P and Head Manufacturing, Product Engineering, Product Lifecycle and Engineering Solutions, Chandrashekar Kakal, Senior VP Enterprise Solutions, U B Pravin Rao, Senior VP, Retail, CPG & Logistics, Prasad Thrikutam Head, Energy, Utilities, Communications & Services, Infosys Limited Global Head, Systems Integration.

Steve Pratt CEO and MD, Infosys Consulting, Ramadas Kamath U, Senior VP, Administration, Commercial Facilities, Infrastructure, Nandita Gurjar, Senior VP and Group Head, Human Resources and Basab Pradhan, Global Head of Sales, are the other members of the EC, the release added.

Earlier this week, Infosys posted a 15.72 per cent jump in its first quarter consolidated net profit year-on-year at Rs 1,722 crore as against Rs 1,488 crore in the year-ago period, meeting street expectations.

The company's revenues rose to Rs 7,485 crore in the first quarter from Rs 6,198 crore in the year-ago period, up 20.76 per cent.

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Bharti, IBM ink 10-year agreement for IT solutions in Africa

Extending its partnership with IBM , telecom major Bharti airtel has now awarded a 10-year contract to the technology giant for providing IT solutions to its employees across 16 African countries.

Under the new agreement, IBM will provide end-user services to airtel employees across Africa in French and English.

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It will provide a standard operating environment, 'help desk' and 'desk side' support to enhance employee efficiency and convenience, Bharti airtel said in a statement.

However, the value of the deal was not disclosed.

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The consolidation of airtel's helpdesks is expected to bring about greater cost savings and efficiencies through streamlining of the processes for addressing IT operational issues.

IBM is already managing Bharti airtel's IT operations in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and 16 African countries.

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It will also include an enhanced information enterprise security solution that further strengthens airtel's commitment to customer data privacy.

Last year, Bharti airtel had acquired Kuwait-based Zain Telecom's African business for $10.7 billion.

The announcement builds on the strategic partnership announced by airel and IBM in late 2010 for the management of the computing technology and services powering Airtel's mobile communications network spanning 16 African countries, it added.

Outsourcing of key operational functions has been key to Bharti airtel's low-cost, high-volume business model that has helped it to build a subscriber base of over 140 million customers in India.

IBM will also be responsible for the implementation and maintenance of a standard operating environment, using platforms, tools and management processes.

"This agreement enables us to provide the best IT capabilities to our employees with a focus on making innovative mobile solutions available across Africa," Bharti Airtel Chief Executive Officer (International) and Joint Managing Director Manoj Kohli said.

Bharti airtel and IBM's relationship began in 2004, when the telecom operator selected IBM to handle IT and applications for its entire network in India.

Bharti airtel currently has over 44 million customers across 16 African countries and is targeting 100 million subscribers by 2015.

"This latest agreement will bring enhanced efficiencies to benefit customers, employees and business partners of Bharti airtel," IBM General Manager (Growth Markets) Bruno Di Leo said.

The new agreement was signed in the first quarter of 2011.

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