Satyam Computer Services Ltd, which has been acquired by Pune-based Tech Mahindra, said on Monday it has named Venki Prathivadi its manager for operations in Australia and New Zealand. Prathivadi has replaced Deepak Nangia, who resigned two months ago for personal reasons, the software exporter said in a statement to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Prathivadi has been with Satyam since 2003was most recently Satyam's delivery director for an Australian telecommunication services provider. He will direct all Satyam activities in the two countries, including customer relationship management, solution development, service delivery, sales and support, the statement said.

Satyam operates major solution centres across Australia in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The scandal-hit firm reportedly derives almost $200 million in revenues from Australia.

Vijay Prasad has been appointed as principal advisor to the ANZ region. He will provide advisory services to build delivery excellence and leadership in ANZ. Prior to occupying this role, he worked for the company's Enterprise Applications and Business Intelligence Practice Group and served as Satyam's CIO.

Meanwhile, corporate affairs minister Salman Khursheed said in New Delhi that the government would not be a mute spectator to the layoff plans in Satyam. The minister hinted at the government's "active involvement" in the company's affairs even after its takeover by Tech Mahindra of the Mahindra & Mahindra group.

"Layoffs - this is something we are not going to turn a blind eye to as we have a relevant presence in decision making," the minister said, adding that his ministry would liaise with the company on this issue.

Taking a firm stand on the reported comment of Tech Mahindra chief executive officer Vineet Nayyar that there were 10,000 surplus people in Satyam, Khursheed said, ''We will not allow the company to be taken for a ride. Our opinion and advice are important till things improve."

There were reports earlier that Satyam was planning to lay off about 8,000 staff working in departments like marketing, human resources and administration.

Commenting on the possibility of similar frauds in the corporate world, Khursheed said, "I would call it a symptom of something wrong in the system. You need to treat the system, the root ... otherwise the symptom may reappear. If I call it a tip, it means I am saying there is an iceberg."

Khursheed said probe ordered by his predecessor P C Gupta would be taken to its logical conclusion. "It will make my task easier," he added.