Meet Phaneesh Murthy an IIT graduate, had Rs 45 crore salary package, got fired from job, went on to acquire Narayana Murthy’s…

Phaneesh Murthy is a well-known figure in India's IT industry, having played a crucial role in shaping the growth trajectory of companies like Infosys and iGATE. Born into a middle-class family in Bengaluru, Murthy completed his B.Tech from IIT Madras and a PGDM from IIM Ahmedabad before starting his career at Sonata Software.

His significant career breakthrough came when he joined Infosys, where he became the Global Sales Head. Murthy's leadership helped Infosys grow from $2 million in revenue to nearly $700 million in a decade. This remarkable success positioned him as a potential successor to Infosys co-founder, NR Narayana Murthy. However, his tenure ended in 2002 amid allegations of sexual harassment.

Undeterred by the controversy, Murthy went on to found Quintant Services, which was later acquired by iGATE Global Solutions. Taking over as CEO and President of iGATE, Murthy led the company through significant growth, including the $1.22 billion acquisition of Patni Computer Systems. This acquisition placed iGATE among India's leading IT firms. However, his career faced another setback when he was dismissed from iGATE in 2013 following another harassment lawsuit.

Since then, Murthy has turned to entrepreneurship and consulting, now serving as CEO of Primentor, a firm specializing in mentoring senior executives and driving growth strategies. Despite the controversies, Murthy remains a key player in the Indian IT landscape, demonstrating resilience in the face of challenges.