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Coforge appoints Akhil Gupta chairperson after boardroom turmoil
Coforge is a technology services company that needed a new board chairperson.
Akhil Kumar Gupta has been chosen for the role for five years.
He previously held a senior position at Bharti Enterprises and has more than 40 years of experience.
The company began searching for a new leader after two senior board members left.
One of those departures followed concerns about a board performance report.
Coforge used a global search firm and considered 60 candidates.
Gupta was selected unanimously by the company’s board and nomination committee.
His appointment still needs approval from shareholders, and Coforge says its long-term revenue goal remains unchanged.
Coforge appointed Akhil Kumar Gupta as chairperson and non-executive independent director for five years, effective Tuesday.
The appointment follows former chairman O P Bhatt’s resignation on September 9 after an internal audit found he withheld a board evaluation report.
Nomination and remuneration committee chairperson D K Singh also resigned, citing differences and tension between independent and executive directors.
Coforge conducted a global search with Egon Zehnder, narrowing 60 candidates before Gupta was unanimously selected by the board and committee.
The appointment requires shareholder approval, while Coforge maintained its four-year revenue guidance of nearly $5 billion.
- Who
- Coforge appointed Akhil Kumar Gupta as chairperson and non-executive independent director.
- What
- Gupta will serve as chairperson for five years, subject to shareholder approval.
- Where
- The appointment was disclosed in a regulatory filing to stock exchanges.
- When
- The appointment became effective Tuesday; the announcement was published on September 29, 2026.
- Why
- Coforge sought new leadership after the resignations of O P Bhatt and D K Singh amid board governance tensions.
Key facts
- Appointee
- Akhil Kumar Gupta
- Role
- Chairperson and non-executive independent director
- Term
- Five years, effective Tuesday
- Approval
- Subject to shareholder approval
- Search process
- Conducted with global executive search firm Egon Zehnder; 60 candidates were initially considered
- Revenue guidance
- Four-year guidance of close to $5 billion remains intact
- Previous leadership
- O P Bhatt resigned as chairman on September 9; Vivek Sharma served as interim chairperson
Quotes
Vivek Sharma
Coforge non-executive independent director and interim chairperson
“We ran a very rigorous and intense global search process in partnership with Egon Zehnder with a focus on finding a candidate with the highest governance experience, professional expertise, and strategic perspectives – criteria that I had shared earlier at our investor meeting.”
thehindubusinessline.com
“We are very excited to have Mr Akhil Gupta join us as the chairperson at a very important time for the industry and the firm.”
thehindubusinessline.com
Sources
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