Coforge appoints Akhil Gupta as Chairperson effective Sep 29, 2026
- Akhil Gupta appointed as Chairperson and Non-Executive Independent Director of Coforge
- Appointment effective September 29, 2026, for a term of five years
- Selection followed a global search by Egon Zehnder from an initial pool of 60 candidates
- Gupta brings 40+ years of experience, formerly serving as Vice Chairman of Bharti Enterprises
*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Coforge Limited has appointed Akhil Gupta as Non-Executive Independent Director and Chairperson of the Board. The appointment is effective from September 29, 2026, for a term of five years.
The Board approved the appointment on September 28, 2026, following a recommendation from the Nomination and Remuneration Committee. The move is subject to shareholder approval. Gupta is not related to any other directors of the company.
Search process and board comments
Vivek Sharma, Non-Executive Director and interim Chairperson, stated that the company conducted a rigorous global search in partnership with Egon Zehnder. The process focused on identifying a candidate with high governance experience and strategic perspectives. A starting list of 60 candidates was narrowed down, with Gupta emerging as the unanimous choice of the NRC and the Board.
Sudhir Singh, CEO and Executive Director, highlighted that Gupta’s experience at Bharti Enterprises navigating business shifts aligns with Coforge’s pivot towards AI-led engineering services. Singh noted the importance of having such governance experience as the firm addresses the AI era.
Profile and experience
Gupta is the former Vice Chairman of Bharti Enterprises and played a pivotal role in its growth since inception. He is a Chartered Accountant with over 40 years of professional experience. He completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 2002.
He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for 360 ONE WAM Ltd and Bharti Life Insurance Ltd. He is also a member of the Board of Zepto, Snapdeal, Eutelsat Communications and Lodha Developers.
Awards and affiliations
Gupta has received numerous awards, including:
- EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award
- CA Lifetime Achievement Award
- CA Global Achiever Award by ICAI
- ET Telecom Lifetime Achievement Award
- Tele.Net Outstanding Contribution to Infrastructure and Telecom Development Award
He is the author of the book 'Some Sizes Fit All' on management, published by Penguin Random House. His professional affiliations include serving as President of TSSC (Telecom Sector Skill Council), Ex-Chairman of DIPA (Digital Infrastructure Providers Association), and membership in CII National Committee on Telecom & Broadband. He is also a member of the CII Task Force on Insolvency and Bankruptcy and has served on the Advisory Committee on Service Providers of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India.
Historical Stock Returns for Coforge
| 1 Day | 5 Days | 1 Month | 6 Months | 1 Year | 5 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -0.62% | -3.69% | -6.33% | +52.44% | +11.42% | 0.0% |
How will Akhil Gupta’s extensive telecom and infrastructure background specifically shape Coforge’s strategy in the AI-led engineering services market?
What impact might Gupta’s appointment have on Coforge’s corporate governance ratings and institutional investor confidence ahead of the shareholder vote?
Given Gupta’s current board roles at Zepto and Snapdeal, how will he manage potential conflicts of interest or time commitments while serving as Coforge’s Chairperson?
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