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Indian-origin CEOs are making waves across various sectors, spearheading some of the world's most successful companies. Whether in technology, healthcare, or beyond, these CEOs have made a mark by steering their respective organisations to unprecedented heights of success. While a portion of Indian-origin CEOs have ventured overseas to lead multinational corporations, others have remained rooted in India, driving their companies to global success. These are some of the most well-compensated professionals in India. According to Financial Express, around 1,320 CEOs in India took home more than Rs 1 crore as salary in FY23. On that note, take a look at the top 10 highest paid CEOs in India.
Here's the list of highest paid CEOs in India
Ravi Kumar Singisetti took over Cognizant on January 12, 2023, from former CEO Brian Humphries. He leads the list of highest paid CEOs in India, earning Rs 186 crore in compensation last year, according to India Today. The majority of Singisetti's compensation was in the form of shares valued at approximately Rs 169.1 crore, according to the company's filings.
Thierry Delaporte stepped down from his role as Wipro CEO last month, with Srinivas Pallia assuming the position of the new CEO and Managing Director from April 7. During the financial year FY23, Delaporte emerged as the second-highest-paid CEO in India, with an annual salary of Rs 82 crore per annum, according to News18.
Sandeep Kalra holds the positions of CEO and Executive Director on the Board of Persistent Systems, a leading Indian multinational technology services company headquartered in Pune. According to LiveMint, Kalra earned Rs 61.7 crore during the last financial year. His salary witnessed a notable increase of approximately 31% from the Rs 46.9 crore he received in FY22. Kalra joined the company in 2019 and assumed the role of CEO in 2020.
Currently, the CEO and Director of Mphasis, Nitin Rakesh, earned Rs 59.2 crore in FY23, according to CNBC. His tenure as CEO and Executive Director of Mphasis began in 2017. Based in Bangalore, Mphasis Limited is a multinational information technology services and consulting powerhouse.
Salil Parekh, the CEO of Infosys, ranks fourth on the list with earnings of Rs 56 crore, according to Moneycontrol. The report also states that he earned a major chunk of his income (nearly Rs 30.6 crore) through the exercise of his RSUs (Restricted Stock Units). However, his salary was comparatively less compared to the previous year (Rs 71 crore in FY22).
Sudhir Singh assumed the role of Executive Director and CEO of Coforge for a five-year term which began in January 2020. Singh commands an annual salary of Rs 34 crore, according to News18. Coforge is an IT services firm, with headquarters in Noida, India, and New Jersey, United States.
CP Gurnani, the former CEO & Managing Director of Tech Mahindra, relinquished both his roles in December 2023. He had been with Tech Mahindra since 2004 and served on the Board of Directors for three years. According to the Economic Times, Gurnani's salary as CEO last year amounted to Rs 32 crore.
Rajesh Gopinathan is the former CEO and Managing Director of Tata Consultancy Services. Upon his appointment, he was one of the youngest CEOs in the Tata Group. Gopinathan tendered his resignation as CEO in 2023. In FY23, his compensation was Rs 29.61 crore, according to Economic Times. Of this amount, Gopinathan received a salary of Rs 1.73 crore, while his benefits, perquisites, and allowances amounted to Rs 2.43 crore.
C Vijayakumar is the CEO & Managing Director of HCL Tech, a renowned global technology company. He assumed the role of CEO in October 2016 and was appointed as Managing Director in July 2021. According to the Economic Times, Vijayakumar received a salary of Rs 28.4 crore in FY23.
Sanjeev Mehta was appointed as the CEO of Hindustan Unilever, the leading consumer goods company, in October 2013. In FY23, Mehta received an annual salary of Rs 22.36 crore, marking a slight increase from Rs 22.07 crore the previous year, according to Financial Express.