EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

ecember 19 2023 will be bittersweet for Chander Prakash Gurnani . As well as being his 65th birthday , the celebration of that arrival will also mark his departure from Tech Mahindra – the company he has led as CEO for 14 years .

Digital transformation specialist Tech Mahindra has evolved and thrived under his reign , leveraging emerging technologies like cloud computing , artificial intelligence , data analytics , the metaverse and Internet of Things ( IoT ) to drive innovation and efficiency in business processes .

CP , as he is affectionately known by friends and colleagues , has built his reputation on the ability to transform , so this passing on of the baton – to former Infosys boss Mohit Joshi on December 19 – is a natural progression rather than the end of the CP story .

“ I don ’ t think I am even close to retiring . I will be shifting gears in my life and transitioning into a new phase as a ‘ coach ’,” he tells Business Chief , in an exclusive interview .

“ I have dedicated a significant portion of my life to the tech industry , starting as a professional and attaining the position of CXO at age 38 . Having served as a captain in this field for an extensive period , I believe it is time to explore a different perspective . I want to pursue endeavours that deeply resonate with my passions and values . I see it as a good time to embark on this personal journey of self-discovery after a long , fulfilling career .”

Turning a crisis into an opportunity That impressive career saw CP join Tech Mahindra in November 2004 after 18 years as Founder and CEO of Perot Systems India . He has won dozens of awards in that time having led Tech Mahindra ’ s remarkable transformation journey – and one of the biggest turnarounds of Indian corporate history .

110 November 2023