 "NRN, the brand")
NRN is the quintessential poster boy of Indian IT. Someone who is hands-on, who in many ways has pioneered the end-to-end services foray for India. He is akin to being the first man on the moon for the IT services industry.
To that extent, brand NRN is a big one. In fact, brand NRN is larger than life as he stepped out and committed himself to the greater good. His cause has been one of good corporate governance, best practice of every kind, and of course, using his wealth for the development of society at large. These activities have given him all the positive strokes a persona brand needs. NRN version 2.0, as I call it for Infosys, is important as it does good to the overall morale of the company. At 67, he is certainly not young. But how does and how has youth ever mattered in corporate or political life at large? Corporate and political leaders mature with age and deliver, never mind at what age they find themselves.
What Infosys needs today is operational savvy and a re-definition of both purpose and strategy. Infosys needs a big buy as well. It needs to unlock its war-chest of cash. It needs to indicate to the world that it is leveraging the future, and is not resting on its past laurels. And in addition to all these, there is a need to ensure that it faces clients with confidence amidst new competition. NRN has lots to do. I am sure he will do all of it and more. Shibu has handled Infosys at a very tough time, and he has done well. Every company needs a different kind of leadership at different times in its tenure. As of now, what is needed is possibly the second coming of NRN.
The author is a brand expert & CEO, Harish Bijoor Consults Inc.
To that extent, brand NRN is a big one. In fact, brand NRN is larger than life as he stepped out and committed himself to the greater good. His cause has been one of good corporate governance, best practice of every kind, and of course, using his wealth for the development of society at large. These activities have given him all the positive strokes a persona brand needs. NRN version 2.0, as I call it for Infosys, is important as it does good to the overall morale of the company. At 67, he is certainly not young. But how does and how has youth ever mattered in corporate or political life at large? Corporate and political leaders mature with age and deliver, never mind at what age they find themselves.
What Infosys needs today is operational savvy and a re-definition of both purpose and strategy. Infosys needs a big buy as well. It needs to unlock its war-chest of cash. It needs to indicate to the world that it is leveraging the future, and is not resting on its past laurels. And in addition to all these, there is a need to ensure that it faces clients with confidence amidst new competition. NRN has lots to do. I am sure he will do all of it and more. Shibu has handled Infosys at a very tough time, and he has done well. Every company needs a different kind of leadership at different times in its tenure. As of now, what is needed is possibly the second coming of NRN.
The author is a brand expert & CEO, Harish Bijoor Consults Inc.