Wipro’s outgoing Chairman Azim Premji said he is confident that the future of Wipro will “far outshine anything that we have done before.”

In a letter to employees, Premji said that Rishad Premji, who will take over from July 31, is firmly rooted in the values that are the bedrock of the company. “His commitment to the spirit of Wipro is absolute. His diverse and cross-industry experiences give him the benefit of a broad view of global business.”

He also said that Rishad brings to this role new ways of thinking, experience, and competence that will lead Wipro to greater heights. “He has been an integral part of the leadership team since 2007 and has an intimate understanding of our company – from operations to strategy. He has a deep knowledge of the global technology industry and was until recently the Chairman of the trade body NASSCOM, where he helped chart the course of India’s $170-billion software industry in this era of digital transformation.”

Premji also pointed out that Rishad will continue to serve on the Board of the Azim Premji Foundation, the philanthropic organisation, which now owns 67 per cent of the economic interest of Wipro Ltd. Thus, in his new role, he will also represent the largest stakeholder of Wipro.

With Abidali Neemuchwala taking over as the Managing Director of Wipro, he said that Abidali and Rishad will make an excellent leadership team. Azim Premji said the company has been an exemplar of a successful, ethical and a socially responsible organisation.

In the letter , Rishad Premji said he feels a deep sense of humility and a surge of energy as he takes over the role of Executive Chairman of Wipro.

“The greatest strength of Wipro is our people. Our commitment and continued focus on our clients powered by deep technology prowess is at the heart of our success. Humble in success and resilient in adversity is our character.”

Rishad Premji said that over the past four years, Abidali and he have worked closely together, and that he has a lot of respect for his strong strategic and operational depth and his sincerity in leading the company. He said Premji has demonstrated that a successful business can be built on an ethical foundation and driven by social purpose.

Neemuchwala said Rishad Premji’s considerable global experience, deep understanding of the technology landscape, ability to see the big picture, work ethic, strong values, empathetic nature and leadership skills are characteristics “I have personally come to admire and respect and are widely acknowledged by all those who know him.”

He said one of the greatest privileges of his life has been to work with Azim Premji. His extraordinary leadership of Wipro for over 50 years, his pioneering role in the global IT industry, and his unique contribution by demonstrating that businesses can be successful while being committed to integrity, have made him a legend, he said.

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