Wipro gets new CEO, TK Kurien is Vice Chairman

India’s third largest IT outsourcer, Wipro Ltd, on Monday announced the appointment of Abid Ali Neemuchwala as its CEO & member of the board. He replaced T.K. Kurien who has been appointed executive vice chairman.

Mr Neemuchwala, who joined Wipro as its group president and chief operating officer from its bigger rival Tata Consultancy Services Ltd in April last year, will succeed Mr Kur-ien. Both these appointments are effective February 1, 2016. The new structure will ensure smooth succession to drive superior growth and profitability, he said.

Mr Kurien, will continue to report to Mr Premji and will remain a Member of the Board until March 31, 2017. Industry experts say that Mr Neemuchwala’s appointment as CEO was a clearly anticipated move, however challenges lie ahead for the new CEO.

“Abid’s appointment as CEO was anticipated right from the time he joined Wipro as the COO. But the company’s lagging growth and disconnect between client requirement and their value proposition will continue to remain a challenge,” said Sudin Apte, CEO, at IT research firm Offshore Insights.

With veterans, including Ayan Mukerji and Sangita Singh exiting the company, there has been a gap in leadership at Wipro, claim industry analysts.