Highest-paid CEOs in the IT sector of India


By Dalal Street Investment Journal (DSIJ)

Summary:


AI disruption has created new challenges for Indian IT companies, as the industry prepares to shift from traditional labour-intensive models to AI-driven services. At the same time, strong leadership has become more important than ever to guide this transformation. So, how much does it cost to lead India’s digital revolution? Here’s a quick look at the highest-paid CEOs in India’s IT sector.

5 IT sector CEO in INDIA

India's IT Sector Contribution to GDP 

The IT sector has been the backbone of India’s growth, with its contribution to GDP remaining at ~7% to 7.5%. As per IBEF, India's IT industry is likely to hit the $350 billion mark by 2026 and contribute 10% towards the country’s GDP. This is due to the rise of artificial intelligence, semiconductors, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.

In India, the IT sector contributes significantly to the public welfare, employment generation and GDP. Overall, the country's IT industry is expected to add a net 135,000 jobs in the fiscal year, taking the total headcount to 5.95 million, Nasscom said.

Indian IT stocks have slumped in recent weeks of early 2026, tracking global peers as investors worry that advanced AI tools will disrupt the traditional business models of software firms, shaving billions off their market value.

India’s IT Industry

Financial Year

Total Revenue ($ billion) *

Export Revenue ($ billion) *

FY 2014-15

118

100

FY 2024-25

283

224

FY 2025-26 (F)

315

265

*Figures from NASSCOM

**F - Forecasted

With companies scaling new heights, leadership has become a critical part. And as businesses grow over time and turn more profitable, executive compensations have also gradually increased.

Wipro Ltd

Trade

201.760.67 (0.33 %)

Updated - 27 February 2026
204.00day high
DAY HIGH
201.15day low
DAY LOW
5137286
VOLUME (BSE)

Role of the CEO in India IT Sector

The CEO plays an important role in this growth. The CEO is the highest-ranked executive and is responsible for guiding the overall direction of the firm. The CEO is responsible for making major business decisions, setting long-term strategies, and ensuring that company goals are achieved. The role of a CEO is mostly defined by the board of directors of the company and sometimes varies depending on the organisation's structure. 

Internally, the CEO motivates employees and drives change when needed. Externally, the CEO represents the company while speaking to investors, the media, customers, and the public.

Indirectly, the performance of the IT sector has also led to a sharp rise in CEOs' salaries. As companies expand, generate higher profits, and compete globally, the responsibilities and expectations from CEOs will also increase, along with their salaries. 

Here are the Top 5 Highest-Paid CEOs in the Indian IT sector.

Based on the most recent available filings, the highest-paid CEOs in India, along with their salaries, as of March 31, 2025, are:

Name

Company

Remuneration (in ₹ crore)

Remuneration as % of Revenue

Remuneration as % of Net Profit

Sandeep Kalra

Persistent Systems Limited

1,480.90

1.23

10.58

Salil Parekh

Infosys Limited

806.24

0.05

0.3

Nitin Rakesh

MphasiS Limited

526.80

0.36

3.09

Angan Guha

Birlasoft Limited

443.45

0.81

8.58

Sudhir Singh

Coforge Limited

361.20

0.3

4.45

Sandeep Kalra

Sandeep has more than 30 years of experience in the IT services industry with a track record of revitalising businesses to boost growth and profitability. Highly regarded for his passion and growth-oriented mindset, Sandeep has expanded on Persistent’s impressive digital engineering pedigree to become an industry leader. Under his tenure as CEO, Persistent has surpassed $ 1 billion in annual revenue and evolved from a specialised technology provider into a dynamic full-stack digital transformation partner and a strong global brand.  

Sandeep Kalra was jointly recognised with Dr Anand Deshpande by Fortune India as India’s Best CEOs in the IT Services (mid-cap) category for 2025. The award was presented by Mr Piyush Goyal, Honourable Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. He was also recognised as a winner at ET Edge India’s Impactful CEO Awards 2025 in the category of Impactful Large Enterprise CEO.

Salil Parekh

Salil Parekh, as chief executive officer and managing director, sets and evolves the strategic direction for the company and its portfolio of offerings while nurturing a strong leadership team to drive its execution. Salil has helped transform Infosys into a leading digital, cloud, and AI company. Salil has over three decades of global experience in the IT services industry with a strong track record of driving digital transformation for enterprises, executing business turnarounds and managing successful acquisitions.

Nitin Rakesh

Nitin Rakesh joined the board of Mphasis as its CEO and executive director in January 2017. He was appointed managing director on September 29, 2021.

He is a distinguished leader in the technology and financial services industries. His career spans almost 30 years, leading large transnational operations and delivering transformative digital solutions to Fortune 500 companies. A computer science engineer at heart, Nitin’s lifelong passion for innovation and technology is evident throughout his career. Coupled with his deep domain expertise in banking, financial services and insurance verticals, strong customer orientation and an entrepreneurial mindset, he has been able to bring cutting-edge offerings consistently to accelerate value creation for customers, shareholders and employees.

Angan Guha

Angan Guha is the MD & CEO of Birlasoft. He provides strategic leadership to Birlasoft, driving significant scale and transformation. Before joining Birlasoft, Angan was the CEO for the Americas 2 Strategic Market Unit at Wipro and also served on its Executive Board and Group Executive Council. An electronics engineer from the University of Pune, Angan has also completed an executive programme in management from the Booth School of Business, University of Chicago.

Sudhir Singh

Sudhir is the chief executive officer of Coforge and serves on the company’s board of directors. He joined Coforge in May 2017. Under his watch, the firm has emerged as the eighth-largest Indian IT services company, grown revenues by almost four times (reference: FY25 results), and seen its market capitalisation has grown 16 times. A firm believer in an "execution first” philosophy, Sudhir champions a “getting it done” paradigm. He introduced the transformative “Transform at the Intersect” strategy in 2017, focusing on the convergence of functional and technological advancements. This vision has been instrumental in Coforge logging industry-leading growth and profitability.

About the Author

SEBI Registered Research Analyst (INH000006396).


Founded in 1986, Dalal Street Investment Journal (DSIJ) brings decades of experience in India’s equity markets. DSIJ's research combines fundamental analysis with price action, guided by disciplined risk management and capital preservation. They follow a structured, data-driven approach designed to help investors and traders make informed decisions beyond short-term market noise. 

Published Date : 27 Feb 2026

Disclaimer :

Investments in the securities market are subject to market risk, read all related documents carefully before investing. This content is for educational purposes only. Securities quoted are exemplary and not recommendatory.

The information on this website is provided on "AS IS" basis. Bajaj Broking (BFSL) does not warrant the accuracy of the information given herein, either expressly or impliedly, for any particular purpose and expressly disclaims any warranties of merchantability or suitability for any particular purpose. While BFSL strives to ensure accuracy, it does not guarantee the completeness, reliability, or timeliness of the information. Users are advised to independently verify details and stay updated with any changes.

The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and is subject to change without prior notice. BFSL shall not be responsible for any consequences arising from reliance on the information provided herein and shall not be held responsible for all or any actions that may subsequently result in any loss, damage and or liability. Interest rates, fees, and charges etc., are revised from time to time, for the latest details please refer to our Pricing page.

Neither the information, nor any opinion contained in this website constitutes a solicitation or offer by BFSL or its affiliates to buy or sell any securities, futures, options or other financial instruments or provide any investment advice or service.

BFSL is acting as distributor for non-broking products/ services such as IPO, Mutual Fund, Insurance, PMS, and NPS. These are not Exchange Traded Products. For more details on risk factors, terms and conditions please read the sales brochure carefully before investing.


Content Partner - Dalal Street Investment Journal Wealth Advisory Private Limited



This article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Market investments are subject to risks. DSIJ Wealth Advisory Private Limited is a SEBI-registered Research Analyst (Reg. No: INH000006396) and Investment Adviser (Reg. No: INA000001142). Please consult your financial adviser before investing. 

[ Read More ]

For more disclaimer, check here : https://www.bajajbroking.in/disclaimer

Read More Blogs

Our Secure Trading Platforms

Level up your stock market experience: Download the Bajaj Broking App for effortless investing and trading

Bajaj Broking App Download

10 lakh+ Users

icon-with-text

4.8 App Rating

icon-with-text

4 Languages

icon-with-text

₹7,300+ Cr MTF Book

icon-with-text