Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) has announced the appointment of Rajesh Varrier as its new Global Head of Operations. Additionally, Varrier will take on the role of Chairman & Managing Director for Cognizant India. This transition follows Rajesh Nambiar’s departure to assume the presidency at NASSCOM. Varrier will join Cognizant’s Executive Leadership team, reporting directly to Ravi Kumar S, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, and will be based in Bangalore, India.
Ravi Kumar S, CEO of Cognizant, expressed confidence in Varrier’s new role, stating, “Rajesh Varrier’s deep operational expertise and entrepreneurial spirit make him a perfect fit for Cognizant as we enhance our focus on operational excellence and efficiency. His leadership will be crucial in continuing to strengthen our foundation in India and driving our growth initiatives.”
As the Global Head of Operations and Chairman & Managing Director, India, Varrier will oversee various responsibilities, including operational management, delivery excellence, workforce planning, and expansion efforts within India. He will play a key role in leading Cognizant’s transformation programs and will represent the company’s interests as it progresses its growth strategies across the region.
Prior to his appointment at Cognizant, Varrier served as Executive Vice President at Infosys, where he led global services and digital operations. His previous roles include heading Infosys’ Digital and Microsoft businesses and serving as Senior Vice President for Digital Experience. Varrier also has experience as CIO and Digital Officer at Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance and was the founder of the analytics firm Activecubes. He holds a degree in Physics and a post-graduate degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Mumbai.
Rajesh Nambiar, who will leave Cognizant to lead NASSCOM, expressed his pride in his tenure, stating, “I am honored to be appointed as the president of NASSCOM. My time at Cognizant has been incredibly fulfilling, and I look forward to working with the broader IT ecosystem to drive the industry’s growth and transformation.”.
