iGate sacks CEO Phaneesh Murthy over sexual misconduct
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alok agarwal
May 21, 2013, 11:09:01 AM5/21/13
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BANGALORE: Nasdaq-listed iGate's board of directors has decided to terminate the employment of its president and CEO Phaneesh Murthy
due to the facts and circumstances surrounding Murthy's relationship
with a subordinate employee and a claim of sexual harassment.
Concurrently, the board has appointed Gerhard Watzinger as president and CEO on an interim basis. The investigation, which is ongoing, has reached the finding that Murthy's failure to report this relationship violated iGate's policy, as well as Murthy's employment contract. The investigation has not uncovered any violation of iGate's harassment policy.
"The Board deliberated extensively on this matter," said Sunil Wadhwani, co-founder and co-chairman of the board of iGate. "We recognize the significant contributions Murthy has provided over the past ten years in helping to establish iGate as a leader in the IT industry. He has worked hard to improve the value of iGate, and we greatly appreciate his efforts. However, as a result of this violation of iGate policy, we asked Murthy to step down."
Murthy will get a post termination benefit of $6,000 per month, indexed for inflation, until he and his spouse reach the age of 65 or become eligible for health coverage under a government-sponsored program, said the recent SEC filing.
Previously, former Infosys employee Rekha Maximovitch had filed a sexual harassment case against Murthy.
Gerhard Watzinger, age 52, is a successful 29-year IT industry veteran, who previously served as an executive at iGate from 1998 to 2003 in a number of roles, including CEO of the iGate solutions business (formerly Mascot Systems). During his tenure, Watzinger drove iGate solutions' transition from a US-centric operation to an international organization across four continents, closed some of the largest deals in the company's history and increased the company's market value by over 150%. Watzinger returns to iGate from INTEL / McAfee, where he was EVP and chief strategy officer. Previously, Watzinger also served as CEO of both SafeBoot and APT International, partner and managing director at Price Waterhouse and managing director at CapGemini.
"Murthy's departure was not related in any way to the company's operational or financial performance, both of which remain strong," said Ashok Trivedi, co-founder and co-chairman of the board of iGate. "iGate will continue to focus on creating value for our customers and shareholders, while upholding the highest ethical standards in every area of our business. We are fortunate to have Gerhard Watzinger returning to iGate during this transition. Watzinger possesses deep knowledge of iGate's business and he assumes his responsibilities as our interim president and CEO with the full support of the board."
"iGate has great resources and a deep bench of talent from which to draw upon to further create shareholder value," said Watzinger. "We have a clear strategy that has put us in this strong position to maintain our successes into the future. Continuing to execute this strategy is our top priority."
Wadhwani and Trivedi will work closely with Watzinger during his tenure as interim president and CEO to ensure a seamless transition.
A search committee within the board of directors has been created, which will oversee the process for the identification and selection of a new president and CEO. The committee has been charged with selecting an experienced industry veteran to take over as the permanent president and CEO and drive long-term growth for iGate, while upholding the highest ethical standards, personally and professionally. Watzinger has taken himself out of consideration for the role of permanent president and CEO, but he will serve as interim president and CEO until the selection process is complete. The company does not expect to make any additional structural or executive leadership changes in the near future.
Concurrently, the board has appointed Gerhard Watzinger as president and CEO on an interim basis. The investigation, which is ongoing, has reached the finding that Murthy's failure to report this relationship violated iGate's policy, as well as Murthy's employment contract. The investigation has not uncovered any violation of iGate's harassment policy.
"The Board deliberated extensively on this matter," said Sunil Wadhwani, co-founder and co-chairman of the board of iGate. "We recognize the significant contributions Murthy has provided over the past ten years in helping to establish iGate as a leader in the IT industry. He has worked hard to improve the value of iGate, and we greatly appreciate his efforts. However, as a result of this violation of iGate policy, we asked Murthy to step down."
Murthy will get a post termination benefit of $6,000 per month, indexed for inflation, until he and his spouse reach the age of 65 or become eligible for health coverage under a government-sponsored program, said the recent SEC filing.
Previously, former Infosys employee Rekha Maximovitch had filed a sexual harassment case against Murthy.
Gerhard Watzinger, age 52, is a successful 29-year IT industry veteran, who previously served as an executive at iGate from 1998 to 2003 in a number of roles, including CEO of the iGate solutions business (formerly Mascot Systems). During his tenure, Watzinger drove iGate solutions' transition from a US-centric operation to an international organization across four continents, closed some of the largest deals in the company's history and increased the company's market value by over 150%. Watzinger returns to iGate from INTEL / McAfee, where he was EVP and chief strategy officer. Previously, Watzinger also served as CEO of both SafeBoot and APT International, partner and managing director at Price Waterhouse and managing director at CapGemini.
"Murthy's departure was not related in any way to the company's operational or financial performance, both of which remain strong," said Ashok Trivedi, co-founder and co-chairman of the board of iGate. "iGate will continue to focus on creating value for our customers and shareholders, while upholding the highest ethical standards in every area of our business. We are fortunate to have Gerhard Watzinger returning to iGate during this transition. Watzinger possesses deep knowledge of iGate's business and he assumes his responsibilities as our interim president and CEO with the full support of the board."
"iGate has great resources and a deep bench of talent from which to draw upon to further create shareholder value," said Watzinger. "We have a clear strategy that has put us in this strong position to maintain our successes into the future. Continuing to execute this strategy is our top priority."
Wadhwani and Trivedi will work closely with Watzinger during his tenure as interim president and CEO to ensure a seamless transition.
A search committee within the board of directors has been created, which will oversee the process for the identification and selection of a new president and CEO. The committee has been charged with selecting an experienced industry veteran to take over as the permanent president and CEO and drive long-term growth for iGate, while upholding the highest ethical standards, personally and professionally. Watzinger has taken himself out of consideration for the role of permanent president and CEO, but he will serve as interim president and CEO until the selection process is complete. The company does not expect to make any additional structural or executive leadership changes in the near future.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-news/internet/iGate-sacks-CEO-Phaneesh-Murthy-over-sexual-misconduct/articleshow/20165793.cms
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