The Hindu Business Line : The smiling man at Satyam’s helm

Hyderabad, Feb. 5 At Satyam, ASM means, ‘Always Smiling Murty’. This ‘smiling Murty’, finds himself suddenly vested with the challenge of steering his company out of, paradoxically, a rather grim situation.

A professional to the core, Mr A.S. Murty, the CEO-designate, is regarded as highly affable and has the knack of connecting with people, right from the support staff to the chairman, recounts his close associate in Satyam.

Paradox because, for this low profile, very people-oriented gentleman, who typically keeps himself away from controversies now finds himself in a ‘hot seat’, with the company hit by a financial scam and possibilities of its sale very high.

Satyam insiders say that ASM did a full public disclosure of his own actions when the company was pushed into a crisis and there were speculations about his role and reports of his selling shares.

Mr Murty was also part of the interim task force mooted by Mr Ramalinga Raju (founder Chairman), in his January 7 confessions.

“He is a Satyamite in true spirit. In fact, in one of the meetings he said I will retire in Satyam,” recalled a close associate, who joined the company 15 years ago at the same time as Mr Murty.

An alumni of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Warangal and an M.Tech from the Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc), Bangalore, Mr Murty is known to be a consensual decision maker, a trait, which could stand him in good stead at a time when Satyam is in deep trouble.

“While the board was saddled with many issues, the care of the nearly 50,000 associates was a gap. With his background, he could be best suited to fill that gap,” said one of the middle-rung Satyamites familiar with his working.

Son of a school teacher and hailing from Vetapalem in Prakasam district of coastal Andhra Pradesh, Mr Murty is a fitness freak and family man with interest in music and culture.

Mr Murty joined Satyam as the head of the SBU-2 (Special Business Unit) in Hyderabad in 1994 and moved on to important leadership roles in technology development, HR and Global delivery systems, before being given the tough task ahead today by the six-member, Government-appointed board.

In the past 50 days, since Satyam has been caught up in the Rs 7,136 crore financial mess and is facing and uncertain future, a big lacuna has been a co-coordinator, who could hold people and business groups together.

Threats of break-up, sale in parts and big clients parting abruptly loomed large.

Will the qualities, ascribed to Mr Murty by people who know him well and his vast experience in SatyamWay help the man steer the company to strengths or will the challenges be too big? Only time will tell.

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