The apprentice

For the last four decades, one man has guided the transformation of Wipro from a vegetable oil company to an IT giant with $3.6 billion in revenues. And that man is Azim Premji.

While five different CEOs have come and gone over the years, it has always been clear that the buck stops with its largest shareholder: the silver-maned, soft-spoken but hard-driving Premji. So, the question of succession often tends to crop up when people talk of Wipro.

Premji, 62, himself has clarified several times that ownership is different from management. Says Pratik Kumar, Corporate VP-HR of the company: “We have succession planning for all senior levels including the Chairman (read: Premji).” In spite of Wipro’s protestations to the contrary, it is clear that the first steps in ushering in the next generation of the family has been taken.

On July 18, Wipro brought Premji’s elder son Rishad, 30, into the company. While Premji appears nonchalant about the induction, the son has stayed away from the media spotlight. (BT’s request for an interview and a photo shoot with Rishad was turned down. “He is just another employee of the company and not an authorised spokesperson,” the company said.)

Premji senior has entrusted Girish Paranjpe, the head of its fast growing BFSI vertical and an old Wipro hand, with the grooming of Rishad. “He is undergoing an induction like anybody in his position as a manager would. As of now, he has met some key customers in India and is learning the ropes of the business.” Rishad is no greenhorn. He has an MBA from Harvard and has worked with GE and Bain & Co.

Meanwhile, Premji’s younger son, Tariq, has moved from his father’s non-profit foundation to his investment firm. Looks like dad’s got his retirement plans in place.