Narayana Murthy, Gopalakrishnan exit Infosys board

Founder-directors of IT bellwether Infosys, NR Narayana Murthy and S Gopalakrishnan, today bade farewell to the board of the $8 billion, 33 years after setting the company in motion.

While Murthy said he has no regrets while Gopalakrishnan emphasised that he has no plan to enter politics.

Seven co-founders, led by Murthy, set up the Bangalore-based firm in 1981, with Murthy having the longest run of about 21 years as CEO before passing the baton to Nandan Nilekani, Gopalakrishnan and S D Shibulal, before handing over the reins to an outsider, Vishal Sikka.

Murthy returned to head Infosys for a second term in June last year after the company hit rough waters, falling behind peers like TCS and HCL Technologies. But he left midway following a spate of senior executives leaving the company.

Murthy and Gopalakrishnan stepped down as executive chairman and executive vice chairman, respectively, on 14 June. They, however, continue on the board till 10 October as non-executive chairman and non-executive vice chairman, respectively.

Addressing media, Murthy said he had no regrets.

"I have no regrets at all. Life is about doing certain things and not doing certain things. At the end of the day, it is the sum total of all this....so I have no regrets," Murthy said.

Murthy will be designated as Chairman Emeritus from 11 October.

Gopalakrishnan, or Kris as he is fondly known, said he is not set out for politics.

"In my case, at least at this point, no political ambitions at all. I don't think I am set out for politics," he said when asked if he too will join politics like his former colleagues Nilekani and V Balakrishnan.

He added that he is looking at pursuing two areas, research and entrepreneurship, in the days ahead.

In August this year, Infosys appointed former SAP board member Vishal Sikka as its CEO and managing director, becoming the first outsider to lead the Bangalore-based firm.