Behind Closed Doors: A Deep Dive into India’s Top-Earning CEOs
India’s business world is flourishing at a rapid pace, with top CEOs steering their companies and making remarkable changes in their domains. Just like how a captain navigates a ship in the water, CEOs play major roles in leading their organisations through economic uncertainties. Overall, a CEO assures the success of a company. He keeps an eye on company functions, including operation, finance, marketing IT, and much more.
This article is focused on the top-earning CEOs in India; it goes into detail about the career trajectories of top Indian business leaders and how they achieve success in their journeys.
Profiles of India’s Top-earning Business Leaders
Naveen Jindal
The chairman of Jindal Steel and Power Limited, Naveen Jindal, is the youngest child of the latest industrialist, Shri Om Prakash Jindal. He is one of the highest-earning CEOs in India. His annual salary was 70+ crore last year.
Nitin Rakesh
Another name on the list of top-earning CEOs, Nitin Rakesh is an inspiring business leader. He is the CEO & Director of Mphasis. His last year’s earnings were Rs. 59.2 crore. In 2017, he joined the company and has been leading it towards newer heights in the IT and consulting landscape.
C Vijayakumar
The CEO and MD of HCl, Vijayakumar, joined the company in 1994 as a senior engineer. In 2016, he reached the position of CEO and has been leading the company since then. Because of his visionary leadership and excellent execution, Vijayakumar has been honoured with multiple awards and recognitions.
Sudhir Singh
When it comes to the profiles of successful CEOs in India, Sudhir Sign, the CEO & Executive Director of Coforge must be listed. He earned around 34 crore last year. He has been leading Coforge, a renowned IT service firm based in Noida, since 2020.
Thierry Delaporte
Thierry Delaporte is the CEO & MD of Wipro, a renowned IT service firm in India. He is a French businessman and renowned business executive; he took over the top position in 2020 after succeeding Adidali Neemuchwala. Under this dynamic leadership, the stock value of the company has increased by 70%.
The Key Factors Influencing CEO Salaries in India
Different jobs need different levels of salaries. Companies that work in stable environments and mechanistic-orientated systems need less flexibility. While companies in a highly dynamic environment adopt organic-orientated systems. The CEO’s salary also depends on the paying capacity of the company.
Trends in CEO Earnings in India 2024
These are a few significant CEO compensation trends in India.
- The average CEO salary has increased to INR 13.8 crore in 2024, making a 40% hike from the pre-COVID levels.
- Women CEOs earned 7.7% more than the median pay package.
- Employees have not gotten the same raises CEOs have in recent years. The climbing CEO salary and relatively stable employee salary have pushed the CEO ratio ever higher.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do top CEOs in India earn?
According to Glassdoor, the average salary of leading CEOs in India is $7,84,000 per year.
What drives compensation for CEOs in India?
Compensation for CEOs in India is no more variable than compensation for hourly and salaried employees. On average, CEOs get 50% of their base salary as a bonus.
What are the lessons from India’s highest-earning CEOs?
Thierry Delaporte, the CEO & MD of Wipro, highlights the importance of staying curious and evolving with the rapidly changing business landscape to grow and succeed.
What is the impact of leadership on corporate success in India?
The impact of high-earning CEOs extends beyond the paychecks. These business leaders play a significant role in driving economic growth and sharing the global image of India. The leading CEOs serve as mentors, inspiring the next generation of business leaders and creating examples for others to follow.
