In a significant industry move, former Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) CEO Rajesh Gopinathan has embarked on a new journey, joining the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) as a senior advisor, focusing on technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) practices. Here are the key points surrounding this noteworthy development:
Gopinathan’s move to BCG comes as a surprise, especially after receiving an extension for a 5-year term as TCS CEO from 2022-2027. During Gopinathan’s tenure, TCS witnessed remarkable growth, achieving a revenue milestone of $25 billion by the end of the December quarter in 2021. His leadership saw TCS’s market cap reaching $100 billion in April 2018 and doubling to $200 billion by September 2021.
Gopinathan played a pivotal role in steering TCS through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, advocating for a swift transition to remote work through the Secure Borderless Workspaces (SBWS) model. Under his leadership, TCS’s net profit increased to $4.5 billion in the 2021-22 financial year, marking significant growth from $3.8 billion in 2016-17. However, margins experienced a 700 basis points dip to 25%.
Gopinathan’s influence expanded TCS’s global footprint, securing deals such as the $2 billion transformation of Phoenix Group’s Standard Life business using the TCS BaNCS digital platform.TCS’s employee strength surged under Gopinathan’s leadership, growing from 3.8 lakh employees in the March quarter of 2017 to over 6 lakh employees.
An email sent to BCG regarding Gopinathan’s appointment as senior advisor in the TMT practice did not receive a response at the time of going to press.
Rajesh Gopinathan’s decision to take on a senior advisory role at BCG reflects the dynamism of leaders in the tech industry and sets the stage for new perspectives in the evolving landscape of technology, media, and telecommunications.