Balakrishnan will be in reckoning to succeed S D Shibulal as Infosys CEO: Narayana Murthy

BANGALORE: V Balakrishnan will definitely be in the reckoning to succeed S D Shibulal as chief executive officer of India's second-largest software exporter, Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy has said.

Heaping praise on his protege, Murthy described Balakrishnan, who will give up his role as CFO at the end of this month, as an "extraordinary individual" who represents the "best traditions" of Infosys.

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"I have no doubt at all that the Nominations Committee will look at him at the time when they have to choose the next CEO," he wrote in an email to ET.

Shibulal, who took over last year, will be CEO until 2014.

Balakrishnan, CFO for six years and a 21-year veteran of Infosys, is regarded as particularly close to chairman emeritus Murthy, who still wields considerable influence at Infosys. He is also perceived as the strongest proponent of the company's margin-focussed strategy.

"He represents the best traditions of Infosys. In keeping with that tradition, he has decided to voluntarily give up the CFO position in favor of a younger candidate - Rajiv Bansal - like Mohan did in 2006," Murthy wrote, referring to Mohandas Pai, Balakrishnan's predecessor.

Pai, who was once considered a contender for the top job at the company, quit in April 2011.

"Bala has his plate full with several critical responsibilities in the company and continues as a very important member of the board," Murthy wrote.