Rajesh Gopinathan, former CEO and MD, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), joined Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, as head, Translational Research and Entrepreneurship, and Professor of Practice, making him the first former CEO of a large Indian IT firm to join academia.
Recently, IIT Bombay created a translational research centre to support transition of IPs from lab to industry and the new position of head, Translational Research and Entrepreneurship, has been created to further accelerate these initiatives, said the institute in a statement.
Professor Subhasis Chaudhuri, director, IIT Bombay, said, “We have a tradition of active involvement of industry leaders in shaping our plans. As we look to advance our ambitious agenda of applied research and entrepreneurship, we are delighted to welcome Rajesh Gopinathan. His global exposure and experience in the rapid scaling up at TCS will play a pivotal role in taking our agenda to the next level.”
Gopinathan said, “I am very excited and happy with the opportunity to contribute to the growth of such an iconic national institution. IIT Bombay’s research infrastructure, globally-respected faculty and talent pool position it uniquely to play a leadership role in shaping the innovation agenda in India and globally. I look forward to working with the IIT Bombay team in charting the next leg of this journey together.”
Gopinathan left TCS in September this year. He reportedly also joined Boston Consulting Group (BCG) as a senior advisor in the Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) practice. Gopinathan himself is a product of two premier institutions – NIT Trichy and IIM (Indian Institute of Management) Ahmedabad.
As per an annual report of TCS, Gopinathan drew Rs 29.1 crore salary in FY23, up 13.17% from his salary level seen in FY22. Gopinathan was CEO of TCS for more than 6 years. Before his CEO stint, he was CFO at TCS for four years.