Something that he hasn’t imagined in his “wildest dreams”, N.R Narayana Murthy today described his “second innings” at Infosys as an exciting yet “somewhat” a new challenge.
“When I walked out of Infosys on 20th August 2011, I did not in my wildest dreams imagine that I will be back here in an executive capacity”, Murthy told reporters after the company’s Board re-appointed him as Executive Chairman.
“This in some sense is like a second innings because it’s seven years since I completed my executive responsibilities. Between 2006 and 2011, I was Non-Executive Chairman and therefore, when I come back here in executive position, it’s in some sense an exciting yet somewhat new challenge”, he said.
Murthy said when (outgoing Chairman) K.V Kamath met him on May 4 and invited him to come back to Infosys to “add value to the company and add value to (S.D) Shibulal (Managing Director and CEO) and when S Gopalakrishnan (Executive Chairman, who has now been re-designated as Executive Vice-Chairman) was “very, very enthusiastic when he discussed it with him, he (Murthy) was in a “dilemma”.
It’s because Murthy had decided when he turned 65 that he would do things that he would enjoy most, in the company of those he enjoyed most. Till 5.30 pm on his last day at Infosys, he was totally passionate and committed to the organisation. “Infosys has been the story of my adult life”.
Now, he has realised that he is fortunate enough to add whatever value he could to the company and Shibulal, after discussion with his family. “This is a unique opportunity for me”, he said, adding, he is sure that working again in Infosys would be an “exciting opportunity” and “extraordinarily pleasant”.