As part of a broader restructuring under new CEO TK Kurien, Wipro has appointed its former head of global sales, Martha B?jar, as chairperson and CEO of Infocrossing. Wipro had acquired the US-based IT infrastructure management company in 2007 for $600 million. Infocrossing is likely to function more autonomously from now on.
In a letter to employees last week, Kurien said that in order to leverage the opportunities across all business units, the firm had realised the need for an autonomous view of the Infocrossing business.
?While leveraging the synergistic benefits of aligning it directly with the technology Infrastructure service organisation, I have asked Martha to take on the strategic and operations management of day to day business at Infocrossing as chairperson and CEO. Martha will report directly to me,? the CEO said.
She will be located in New Jersey and the Infocrossing leadership team will report to her. A Wipro spokesperson confirmed the development.
Though FE could not verify with the company, an analyst tracking Wipro said the firm has not been able to grow the government part of Infocrossing?s business. An autonomous organisation may help Wipro avoid protectionism in the US and bag more government contracts. Martha, incidentally, also has responsibility for US government relations initiative at Wipro. Kurien wrote that Martha will structure the platform for Wipro?s education initiatives in the US.
The firm is investing heavily into skills development of its US employees and is working closely with the US government and members of the academia. ?We are committed to creating education excellence and providing equal opportunities employment for people across the US who wish to join the IT industry,? the CEO wrote in the letter.
Kurien stated that Wipro would also leverage Martha?s involvement with private equity firms.
?She has been mandated to structure the go-to-market approach to successfully grow our PE business in partnership with our business units,? he stated.
Martha joined Wipro in July 2009 and until March 2011, headed the firm?s global sales and operations team. Prior to Wipro, she worked with Microsoft and Nortel.
Kurien said Martha brought strong business diversity required for the new role. Martha is also a member of Wipro?s corporate executive council. This strategic group is led by Wipro chairman Azim Premji.