Wipro appoints ICICI Prudential ex-CEO NS Kannan to board

Wipro Limited, a renowned technology services and consulting entity, has unveiled its plan to bring N.S. Kannan into its Board of Directors. This decision will be effective from October 1, 2023, pending shareholders’ approval. Slated to serve as an Independent Director, Kannan is an embodiment of 30 years of knowledge within the Financial Services sector, covering areas like Banking and Insurance.

N.S. Kannan’s New Role at Wipro

Renowned for his past role as the Managing Director & CEO at ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Kannan’s leadership was pivotal in metamorphosing the organization into a multi-product and multi-channel enterprise. His extensive professional journey includes numerous leadership positions at ICICI, especially as the Executive Director & CFO of ICICI Bank.

Wipro ropes in ICICI Prudential ex-CEO NS Kannan to its board. Photo courtesy of Rameshng/Wikimedia Commons.

Journey of Kannan: Banking to Insurance

Beyond ICICI, Kannan’s expertise was recognized by the Government of India and different regulatory authorities. Some of his notable positions include being an advisor for RBI during the DHFL resolution, a participant in SEBI’s Corporate Bonds and Securitization Advisory Committee, and chairing the Regulatory Review Committee of Life & General Insurance Councils. His involvement extends to other committees like the IRDAI’s Insurance Advisory Committee and RBI’s Steering Committee on Indian Accounting Standards implementation.

Statements from Wipro’s Leadership

Welcoming this new shift, Rishad Premji, Chairman at Wipro Limited, expressed, “We are pleased to have Kannan on our Board. Kannan is a veteran of the financial services industry, and Wipro will greatly benefit from his leadership experience, and expertise across Finance, Strategy, Corporate Governance, Risk Management, and beyond.” On the same note, N.S. Kannan shared, “I am excited and honored to join the Board of Wipro, an iconic values and purpose-driven company that is a key technology partner to some of the most respected clients globally. I look forward to contributing to its next phase of growth and impact.”

Educational & Professional Credentials of N.S. Kannan

On the educational front, Kannan is a Mechanical Engineering graduate from NIT, Trichy. He’s also a Chartered Financial Analyst from ICFAI and possesses a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from IIM, Bangalore.