Since the time Nadar handed over the baton to Vineet Nayar, HCL Technologies has gone through an overhaul
Those who’ve tracked Indian IT for a few years now, usually have no qualms in describing Shiv Nadar as the original pit bull terrier in the business. Fierce, hard charging, unforgiving, and deeply, deeply involved with HCL Technologies — a software services company he spun out of his original creation, a hugely successful hardware firm, HCL Infosystems. His persona was in stark contrast to the other titans in the business. Narayana Murthy assiduously cultivated a statesman-like image while Azim Premji came across as a recluse.
Legacy Issues
Now, HCL Technologies didn’t exactly have a great reputation with employees. Their employee stock option plan (ESOP) for instance, wasn’t exactly transparent. Who was awarded, how much, and why was largely unknown. To the world outside as well, HCL Tech’s fierce ways had earned it a not-so-endearing reputation. To that extent, Nayar had a tough job on hand. His single most important task was to build trust, both inside and outside.
THE TRANSFORMER
Post 2005, under Vineet Nayar, HCL Tech has undergone a makeover
(This story appears in the 06 November, 2009 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)