Thierry Delaporte served as the CEO and Managing Director of Wipro Limited, a global information technology services, consulting, and business process services company with a revenue of $11 billion. Before joining Wipro, Delaporte held various leadership positions at Capgemini, including Chief Operating Officer and a member of the Group Executive Board. His passion for meaningful change is evident in his co-founding of Life Project 4 Youth, a non-profit organization dedicated to the professional and social integration of young adults living in extreme poverty.
Thierry Delaporte Educational Background and Early Career
Delaporte holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance from SciencesPo Paris and a Master of Laws from Sorbonne University. His career has taken him across multiple countries and continents, garnering extensive experience and a global perspective. He currently resides in Paris.
Thierry Delaporte Leadership at Wipro
Delaporte’s tenure at Wipro was marked by significant challenges and changes. Under Wipro CEO Thierry Delaporte, Wipro aimed to enhance its global footprint and drive growth through strategic initiatives and acquisitions. One notable acquisition was the $1.5 billion purchase of Capco, a London-based global management and tech consultancy, to strengthen Wipro’s presence in the BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance) sector.
However, the company faced several hurdles, including a decline in net profits and the departure of around ten senior leaders in 2023. These challenges, compounded by the broader economic factors such as inflation, interest rate hikes, and a slowdown in tech spending, led to Delaporte’s premature exit as CEO and MD.
Transition to New Leadership
Srinivas Pallia, an internal candidate and a veteran of Wipro, succeeded Delaporte. Pallia, who joined Wipro in 1992, brings extensive experience and deep knowledge of the company. He has previously led Wipro’s Americas business and held key positions such as head of business application services and president of the consumer business unit.
Pallia’s appointment comes at a turbulent time for Wipro. The company reported an 8% year-on-year decline in net profit for Q4 of the financial year 2023-24. Despite this, there was a quarter-on-quarter increase in net profit by 5.8% in Q4, providing a glimmer of hope.
Future Prospects and Focus Areas
As the new CEO, Pallia’s immediate focus will be on restoring confidence among employees and investors. Key areas of attention include margin improvement, leadership stability, and investment in newer capabilities such as artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics. Demonstrating disruptive productivity improvements and refining market positioning will be crucial for Wipro’s success.
Pallia will also need to address the integration challenges posed by the Capco acquisition and work towards sustaining revenue growth and margins in the short term. The IT industry is experiencing a clear slowdown in spending, making leadership stability and strategic focus even more critical.
Thierry Delaporte’s Compensation and Legacy
During his tenure, Delaporte became the highest-paid CEO in the Indian IT industry for the second consecutive year, earning over $20 million in FY24. His compensation included a mix of salary, allowances, variable pay, long-term compensation, and severance-related costs.
