Sri S. Ramadorai, Former CEO & MD, Tata Consultancy Services
CHAIRMAN (with effect from 21.02.2020)
Mr. S. Ramadorai was in public service from February 2011 to October 2016. During his tenure as the Chairman of National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) his approach was to enhance skilling by ensuring quality and standards of outcomes through leveraging technology and creating an inclusive environment to co-operate, collaborate & co-exist. He strongly believes that empowering the youth with the right skills can define the future of the country.
Ramadorai is currently Chairman of the Advisory Board at Tata STRIVE, the Tata Group’s CSR skill development initiative that aims to address the pressing national need of skilling youth for employment, entrepreneurship and community enterprise. He is also the Chairman of Tata Technologies Limited and additionally serves as an Independent Director on the Boards of Piramal Enterprises Limited and DSP Investment Managers. In March 2016, he retired as the Chairman of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE Limited) after having served on their board for a period of 6 years.
Ramadorai took over as the CEO of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in 1996 when the company’s revenues were at $ 155 million and since then led the company through some of its most exciting phases, including its going public in 2004. In October 2009, he retired as the CEO, leaving a $ 6 billion global IT services company to his successor. He was then appointed as the Vice Chairman and retired in October 2014, after an association of over 4 decades with the company.
Given his keen passion to work in the social sector and with community initiatives, he serves as the Chairman on the Council of Management at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) and the Chairperson of the Governing Board at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). He is also the President of the Governing Body of Sahapedia, a web-based open resource on the arts, cultures and histories of India. Over the last ten years they have documented diverse aspects of Indian culture as multimedia modules, in collaboration with institutions such as the Archaeological Survey of India, Indian Institute of Advanced Study and the National Centre for the Performing Arts.
In recognition of his commitment and dedication to the IT industry Ramadorai was awarded the Padma Bhushan (India’s third highest civilian honour) in January 2006. In April 2009, he was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for his contribution to the Indo-British economic relations. In 2016, he was also awarded The Economic Times – Lifetime Achievement Award for his glorious contribution to Tata Consultancy Services.
His academic credentials include a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Delhi University (India), a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electronics and Telecommunications from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru (India) and a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of California – UCLA (USA). In 1993, Ramadorai attended the Sloan School of Management’s highly acclaimed Senior Executive Development Program.
Ramadorai is a well-recognized global leader and technocrat who has participated in the Indian IT journey from a mere idea in 1960’s to a mature industry today. Ramadorai captured this exciting journey in a wonderfully personalized book titled The TCS Story…and Beyond published in 2011.
Among his varied interests, Ramadorai is also passionate about photography and Indian classical music.