TEANECK, NEW JERSEY – Cognizant, a leading global IT services firm, has named Rajesh Varrier as its global head of Operations, effective September 2, 2024.
Varrier will also take on the role of chairman and managing director of Cognizant India starting October 1, 2024.
He succeeds Rajesh Nambiar, who is leaving to become president of NASSCOM.
Key responsibilities and leadership role
In his new position, Varrier will serve as an executive vice president, reporting directly to Cognizant’s CEO, Ravi Kumar S. Based in Bangalore, India, Varrier will oversee various aspects of the company’s operations, including delivery excellence, workforce management, planning, and the India Leadership Council.
Varrier’s role will also involve steering regional leadership initiatives in India, driving company transformation programs, and supporting Cognizant’s growth strategies in the region.
Extensive experience in IT and leadership
Before joining Cognizant, Rajesh Varrier held several senior roles at Infosys, including executive vice president, head of global services, and head of Infosys Americas. He also led Infosys’ Digital and Microsoft businesses globally.
Earlier in his career, Varrier was the CIO and digital officer for Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance and founded Activecubes, an analytics firm. He graduated with an undergraduate degree in Physics and a postgraduate degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Mumbai.
Ravi Kumar S., CEO of Cognizant, praised Varrier’s appointment, stating, “Rajesh is a respected, experienced executive whose operational rigor and entrepreneurial spirit aligns well with Cognizant.” Kumar emphasized the importance of the India Chair role and expressed confidence in Varrier’s ability to enhance the company’s operations in India.
Varrier also shared his excitement about the new role, saying, “I’m thrilled to help accelerate the company’s growth journey and look forward to working with the amazing team the company has in place in India and globally.”
