Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) reported that its Board of Directors have named Ravi Kumar S as CEO and member of the Board immediately. Kumar will take over for Brian Humphries in both roles. Humphries will remain as a special advisor until March 15th, 2023. Kumar has had a 20-year career at Infosys in various leadership roles such as President from January 2016 through October 2022.
Stephen J. Rohleder has been announced as a member of Zognizant’s Board since March 2022 and has been elected Chair of the Board.
Leadership Commentary
“The Board is focused on positioning Cognizant to reaccelerate growth and drive shareholder value,” said Chair of the Board Stephen J. Rohleder. “As a proven leader with deep experience developing global talent and building a culture of success, we believe Ravi is the right person to take Cognizant into its next phase of growth. He brings world-class expertise in consulting, process, and technology transformation as well as demonstrated success building businesses. We are highly confident he can build on Cognizant’s portfolio of in-demand solutions, strong brand, and significant international expansion opportunity to unlock enhanced performance and growth.”
Rohleder continued, “Brian was a resilient leader, providing a steady hand as he steered the company through various challenges, including a global pandemic. We thank Brian for his many contributions to Cognizant, which have helped to position the company to capture a large, growing market and fuel profitable revenue growth. We believe now is the right time for new leadership to fully capitalize on these opportunities.”
“The Board also wants to thank Michael for his leadership during his time as Board Chair. Michael’s dedication to Cognizant, including his unwavering commitment to our mission and our shareholders and other stakeholders, has set a strong example for me and the rest of the Board,” Rohleder concluded.
Humphries said, “I am proud of our team’s achievements during my tenure as CEO. Our brand is more visible, our portfolio is stronger, our client relationships are more consultative and we are better aligned to high growth digital segments within our market. The company is in a great position for success. It was an honor to lead our talented associates and I wish Ravi and the leadership team all the best for the future.”
“I am honored to join Cognizant, a company I have long admired for its dedicated client focus and its track record of innovation,” said Kumar. “I look forward to working with Steve, the rest of the Board, and the leadership team to capture the many opportunities ahead. I have watched Cognizant fundamentally transform its business, expanding its digital portfolio and capabilities, strengthening client relationships and partnerships, and meaningfully enhancing operational discipline. Cognizant is well-positioned for growth, and I’m excited to unlock the Company’s significant potential for our employees, clients, investors, and other stakeholders.”
