When MindTree’s founder chairman, Ashok Soota, announced his decision to quit the company he had co-founded with a few others, most thought the new chairman would be one of the founders. But the company sprung a surprise when it announced that Albert Hieronimus, an independent director, would replace Soota from April 1. The said it wanted to separate the roles of chairman and CEO & MD.
Heironimus, is no stranger to MindTree. He has been closely associated with the company’s business, having served as an independent director since 2006. He is a member of the strategic initiatives committee and the audit committee, and the chairman of the investor grievances committee of the board, besides being the lead independent director.
One of the key strengths that went in his favour is that he understands and loves automobiles, given his experience of working across various arms of Bosch Group, a global major in automobile parts. MindTree, going forward, wants to add this vertical as one of its growth pillars. Hieronimus is also the chairman of Bosch’s flagship in India, Bosch Ltd, and had been its managing director for five years (2003-08). He was also the chairman of the executive board at Bosch Rexroth AG, Germany, until June 2010. He is currently a member of the supervisory board of Bosch Rexroth AG.
