The Mahindras have picked Manish Vyas, currently Senior Vice-President of Tech Mahindra, to head its telecom business.

Though he is going to head Tech Mahindra’s telecom business, he is tipped to head the overall telecom vertical of Mahindra Satyam-Tech Mahindra after the merger happens.

His elevation assumes significance as it was C.P. Gurnani, the Managing Director of Tech Mahindra and Chief Executive Officer of Mahindra Satyam, who has been directly handling the tasks. Gurnani has been designated as the Chief Executive Officer of the merged entity.

“Gurnani will have much bigger tasks as the merged entity aims at achieving $5 billion turnover by 2015. After the merger the company is going to have two broad divisions. We are planning to retain the business identities of the two firms. Manish Vyas will continue to head the telecom business for the merged entity,” sources in the company said.

This is the second major appointment in the last three months. It named Manoj Chugh as Global Head for Business Development at Mahindra Satyam. He is going to head the integrated entity's business expansion plans “across accounts and geographies”.

The telecom business constitutes about 96 per cent of Tech Mahindra’s revenues of Rs 5,500 crore in 2011-12. After the merger, this is going to constitute about 47 per cent, with Mahindra Satyam, which is predominantly an IT services business, contributing the remaining share in the overall pie.

The merged entity is projected to have a revenue base of Rs 12,500 crore ($2.5 billion), making it the fifth biggest IT company in the country.

The merger plan hit a roadblock as Mahindra Satyam awaits the Andhra Pradesh High Court permission. Both the firms had received all other permissions for the merger. kurmanath.kanchi@thehindu.co.in

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