Infosys’ Rajesh Varrier To Succeed Nambiar As Cognizant India CMD

Cognizant has appointed industry veteran Rajesh Varrier as its new Chairman and Managing Director for Cognizant India, effective 1 October 2024. Additionally, Varrier will take on the role of Global Head of Operations from 2 September 2024.

He will succeed Rajesh Nambiar, who will leave the company at the end of September to become the president of IT industry trade association Nasscom.

Varrier will be based in Bangalore and will report directly to Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar S. He brings 30 years of experience in service, operations and digital transformation, with a background in leadership roles at Infosys. His responsibilities will include overseeing global operations, driving delivery excellence and managing workforce planning. He will also play an important role in Cognizant’s India Leadership Council and lead the company’s expansion efforts in the country.

“Rajesh Varrier is a respected, experienced executive whose operational rigor and entrepreneurial spirit aligns well with Cognizant. As we drive further operational excellence, efficiency and a sharp focus on execution into our business model, this role is a natural orchestration point for our India-based operations,” said Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar S. 

Before Cognizant, Varrier served as Executive Vice President at Infosys, where he was responsible for Global Services and Infosys Americas, as well as the company’s Digital and Microsoft businesses. He has also held important roles at Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance and founded the analytics firm Activecubes.

“Additionally, the job of India Chair is deeply important to our culture and my years of working with Rajesh Varrier gives me great confidence that together, with our growing leadership team in India, we can continue to build upon our already strong foundation to be the employer of choice in India,” added Ravi Kumar S.

“Cognizant’s reputation is rooted in its talented associate base and the quality outcomes it delivers for its global clients,” said Varrier. “I’m thrilled to help accelerate the company’s growth journey, as leader of these critical business areas, and look forward to working with the amazing team the company has in place in India and globally.”