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    V Balakrishnan: A combination of business acumen with a skill for numbers

    Synopsis

    V Balakrishnan's coworkers at Infosys say he was not just a finance guy.

    ET Bureau
    BANGALORE: Last year in October, Infosys' investors woke up to a double whammy. The information technology (IT) major had posted tepid quarterly numbers, but the shocker came in with the announcement of its chief financial officer (CFO) V Balakrishnan's decision to step down.

    Bala, as he is better known, had worked on Infosys' initial public offering (IPO) and its overseas listing as a part of the finance team even before being elevated to the CFO's position. He had also ably handled the departure of Mohandas Pai.

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    At that time, Bala already had the responsibility for some businesses - the BPO business as chairman, Infosys' India business and the banking product, Finacle; in addition to being on the company's board. But he was still known as the finance guy.

    However, those who have worked with him say his business skills were equally impressive. "He was not just a bean counter. He combined business acumen with a skill for numbers," says D Swaminathan, former CEO of Infosys BPO, describing him as downright honest and as 'someone who calls a spade a spade'.

    His forthrightness didn't endear him to many. Especially, for the hard questions he asked and his penchant for holding profit margins. However, his regime too did not see Infosys making any acquisitions, even as smaller peers went ahead and inked deals that put them ahead.

    Though he had moved out of the CFO role, undoubtedly, he was still a force to reckon with in the organisation and a strong candidate to succeed S D Shibulal as the CEO.

    Bala's admiration for NR Narayana Murthy is well known. So, it is a little surprising that his leaving Infosys followed the return of Murthy as the executive chairman. His responsibilities have only increased in 2013. He replaced B G Srinivas as chairman of Lodestone, Infosys' largest acquisition. And in the most recent organisation-wide rejig, Stephen Pratt was reporting into him. Some who know him say that perhaps he got tired of the uncertainty and wanted to move on.

    By all accounts, he was bright and had also shown himself capable of running business. Some who know him say that perhaps he got tired of the uncertainty and wanted to move on.

    And it is likely he took the decision to quit not so long back in November when he sold 1 lakh Infosys shares. It was time for him to move on much as he was Infosys' and Murthy’s man.


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