CP Gurnani – The Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Tech Mahindra

By – Anant Kumar

Hello Business Connect reader, we are back with another amazing success story. A success story of an accomplished business leader CP Gurnani, who has in many ways led Tech Mahindra’s transformation journey where he contributed significantly to the company’s strategy and philosophy. A life learner and a disrupter are what best describe him. So, without further due, let’s go through his success journey.

Introduction

Chan Parkash Gurnani or CP Gurnani is an Indian business leader, philanthropist, and the MD and CEO of Tech Mahindra Limited. As a business leader, he has extensive experience in international business developments, start-ups, turnarounds, joint ventures, mergers, and acquisitions. Cp led Tech Mahinda’s transformation journey, and one of the biggest turnarounds of Indian corporate history was seen in 2003 when Tech Mahindra acquired the Satyam computer services, even Anand Mahindra knew it would take much more than just a change of leadership for Satyam to regain its earlier glory. From 2016 to 2017, CP has also served as a chairman of NASSCOM, it is an Indian non-governmental trade association and advocacy group focused on the IT and BPO Industry.

Early Life and Education.

Chan Parkash Gurnani was born in Neemuch, a small town, Madhya Pradesh on Dec 19, 1958. However, he spent most of his early life in multiple states, Chittorgarh, Kota, and Jaipur, in Rajasthan. As far as his qualification is concerned, CP Gurnani graduated in chemical engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, in 1981. He has also been felicitated with an honorary Doctorate from Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology and Sharda University.

Career.

CP Gurnani started his early career as a process engineer at JK Synthetics, serving for 3 years. After working for 3 years. Later, Gurnani moved into the technology firm HCL, where he held several leading positions with HCL Hewlett-Packard, HCL Perot System, and Perot Systems for almost 18 years from 1986 – 2004. According to Forbes, CP worked at HCL for 23 years.

Tech Mahindra and CEO Journey

By the time, his name wasn’t strange at all in the tech industry. In 2004, CP Gurnani joined Tech Mahindra, where initially he was heading the company’s international operations, sales, and marketing.

In 2009, Anand Mahindra made an announcement for an accusation of the turnaround of Satyam Computer service, he purchased a major stake, even though he knew it would not be easy. That’s when Mahindra turned to CP Gurnani. He became CEO of the newly-christened Satyam Mahindra (renamed itself). He took the proverbial bull by its horn and played a crucial character in the transformational journey of the Mahindra.

This turnaround IT company wasn’t easy for him. At the time, it had an ongoing class-action suit against Satyam. It is easy to get distracted in such a situation. However, he focused on the job. As a result, the company started growing up. Later, CP spearheaded its merger with Tech Mahindra, creating a single entity, now known as the 6th largest Indian IT service.

In 2012, Tech Mahindra selected CP Gurnani as an MD (managing director), credited with the turnaround of the scam-hit Mahindra Satyam.

Philanthropy work.

CP Gurnani is also a philanthropist who strongly believes educating a child is the best way to grow societies. He is on the board of Tech Mahindra Foundation, launched in 2007, has a motto to help the underprivileged children with 116,00 beneficiaries and counting. CP along with his wife Anita has also founded an NGO “Titilyan”, situated in Noida, spreading smiles and education to around 240 underprivileged children.

Award and reorganization.

Over the course of his career journey, he has won several awards such as The CEO World Award 2018 for his organization’s Wide Reskilling Initiative, in 2019 the best CEO Award in the IT & ITES category by Business Today.

CP’s clinical leadership strategies have always been appreciated at multiple platforms over the years. IN 2016, Asia was one global Indian of the year-technology, in 2015, best CEO of the year at the Forbes India leadership award, In 2014, CEO of the Year by Business Standards, In 2013, Data quest IT person of the year, and more. CP is highly active on Social Media Platforms Like Twitter and LinkedIn.

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CP Gurnani – The Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Tech Mahindra