New TCS CEO Rajesh Gopinathan has got advice from none other than the newly appointed Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran. “His advice to me is – You have been managing risk side, now manage return side,” Gopinathan told ET Now. “I expect Chandra to be available on demand,” he added. Further explaining his role at TCS he said, “I was prepared to take over as the IT company’s CEO and I am spending maximum time with clients & employees post my takeover”. “TCS has a stable and strong management team. There are no issues with stability of management. It’s first among equal kind of situation. TCS is a company with lot of longevity on the management side,” he said. Talking about his role in the company, Gopinathan said, “I spent first five years in TCS in sales role. Labels don’t bother me, I was questioned when I was appointed as CFO”.

Gopinathan recently wrote to the company’s employees in which he said that he is humbled and honored at being given the opportunity to lead TCS. He also thanked former TCS CEO N Chandrasekaran in the letter. “I would like to thank Chandra for his exemplary leadership and mentorship. He will continue to be associated with TCS as our Chairman and we will have the benefit of his counsel and leadership as always,” he wrote.

Gopinathan joined TCS in 2001 and was appointed the Chief Financial Officer in February 2013. Prior to becoming the CFO, Rajesh was the Vice President – Business Finance. According to TCS, in this role, he was responsible for the financial management of the company’s individual operating units. His responsibilities included financial planning and control as well as margin management and revenue assurance.

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“Rajesh Gopinathan joined TCS from Tata Industries and worked to drive TCS’ newly established e-business unit in the United States. He was also involved in the design, structure and implementation of the new organizational structure and operating model of the company,” says TCS. Rajesh Gopinathan is an electrical and electronic engineer. He has done his engineering from REC Trichy (now NIT, Trichy). He graduated in 1994 and went on to pursue an MBA degree from the renowned IIM, Ahmedabad. Born in 1971, Rajesh lives in Mumbai with his wife Lekshmi, daughter and son.

Rajesh Gopinathan has big shoes to fill with N Chandrasekaran handing him the charge of the country’s largest IT services exporter. TCS is currently the Tata Group’s most valuable company. Under N Chandra’s leadership, TCS generated consolidated revenues of $16.5 billion in FY16. TCS was also India’s most valuable company in the year ended 2015-16 with a market capitalization of over $70 billion.