Birlasoft Witnesses Exits of 3 Senior Executives, Company Signals Leadership Reset

Birlasoft has announced a sweeping leadership reshuffle, with the exits of three senior executives and the appointment of new leaders in key operational and human resources roles, even as the company remained guarded on the reasons behind the changes.

In a recent regulatory filing, the company said its board had noted the resignation of Priti Kataria, Chief Human Resources Officer; Selvakumaran Mannappan, Chief Operating Officer; and Manjunath Kygonahally, CEO, Rest of the World and Global Head of Strategic Growth Initiatives. All three exits are effective March 31, and were attributed to “personal reasons”.

The company simultaneously approved the appointment of Arun Rao as Chief Human Resources Officer and Vikram Puranik as Chief Operating Officer, both effective April 1.

Rao, a long-time HR leader within the CKA Birla Group ecosystem, brings over three decades of experience across talent strategy and organisational transformation, and has previously served as Chief People Officer at Birlasoft.

Puranik joins from GlobalLogic, where he was Senior Vice President of Engineering, with experience spanning global delivery and engineering operations.

Responding to queries from AIM, a company spokesperson said, “We have ambitious plans for the future, and are focused on building the leadership and capability needed to bring them to life. Having the right talent in place across the organisation is central to our ability to execute effectively, seize new opportunities, and deliver long-term growth for all stakeholders.”

However, the company did not directly address whether the simultaneous exits of three senior leaders were part of a planned restructuring or independent decisions.

It also did not respond to questions about whether the reshuffle reflects any concerns around execution, delivery efficiency, or margin pressures. The company further declined to clarify its plans for the CEO of the Rest of World and Global Strategic Growth role, which currently remains unfilled, or the specific operational mandate assigned to the incoming COO.

Queries on whether any broader changes to talent strategy or workforce structure are being planned under the new CHRO also went unanswered.

In a LinkedIn post, Kygonahally said he would be stepping down from Birlasoft after over two years with the company. In addition to building the RoW business, he said he had the opportunity to lead global strategic initiatives, including partnerships and marketing.

While Birlasoft has framed the changes as part of its forward-looking plans, the coordinated nature of the exits—spanning HR, operations, and global growth—signals a broader leadership reset at the company.

The developments come at a time when mid-tier IT services firms are navigating shifting client demand, tighter margins, and increasing pressure to align delivery models with AI-led transformation.

Wipro, from the tier-1 cohort, too began the new financial year with a series of announcements, unveiling a dedicated AI business unit, reshuffling senior leadership and executing internal restructuring across subsidiaries.

The company announced the launch of an AI-Native Business and Platforms Unit, which will operate alongside its services business.

The company, in a disclosure, said that the move would strengthen Wipro’s position in a “services as software” world, placing it at the forefront of innovation while delivering Consulting-led, AI-powered transformation for clients.

CEO and Managing Director Srini Pallia said, “This strategic pivot further sharpens Wipro Intelligence’s ability to deliver tangible value to clients and drive stronger business outcomes.”