He was considered the second most eligible bachelor in the county after Rahul Gandhi till he tied the knot with childhood sweetheart Aditi at a simple ceremony in Mumbai in August 2005. Rishad Premji is now set to make a statement when he joins the Wipro empire sometime in July.
The elder of Wipro Chairman Azim Premji's two sons, Rishad studied at the Harvard Busines School and graduated from Wesleyan University, Connecticut. With a penchant for software and music, Rishad sure has learnt one thing from his father, and that is to maintain a low profile.
Rishad, who is currently with Bain and Co, had a brief stint with GE before doing his MBA. His move now to join his father's empire is interesting considering the fact that Azim Premji once said he did not want Wipro to become a family business.
Sources in Wipro maintain that Rishad will have to work his way through to the top. It is said that Rishad was keen on joining Wipro. Like everyone else, he too had to send in his resume and as luck would have it, he managed to find a placement.
Rishad will join the 70,000-employee-strong software-led conglomerate, which also makes soaps and bulbs, as a business finance solutions manager. It is also learnt that he will report to its president, Girish Paranjpe. Speculation has it that he will join the company sometime in late July as the annual general meeting takes place around that time.
Like dad, like son: Lots has been spoken about Rishad's simplicity and his love to remain low key. Sources say his father always wanted him to learn the hard way. In fact, when Rishad was in London, he had asked his father's permission to stay at the Wipro guesthouse. This was turned down by Premji Sr who reportedly said it was company property.
Interests: Rishad, like his father, is interested in reading and music.
It is said that Rishad reads quite a lot and during his spare time reads quite a lot of books, mostly relating to management. The million-dollar question is whether he will travel economy class like his father. Another aspect of Rishad, which is very similar to his father, is his secular nature. Although a Muslim, a visit to the temple is a must for Rishad too.
Succession: Rishad's father owns nearly 84 per cent of the stake in Wipro and IT pundits feel this move by Premji Sr to rope in his son means that there is a succession plan in place. The post of CFO is number two in the Wipro hierarchy and bringing Rishad into the financial services hints of a succession plan, it is believed. Analysts say like his father he eventually will become the chairman of the company.
Marriage: The tall and handsome Rishad got married to his childhood sweetheart Aditi at a very low-key ceremony in Mumbai in 2005. Considering his father's penchant for remaining low-key, it is learnt that Rishad too was in favour of a low-key wedding. No gala receptions with no celebrity list, the wedding at the Taj Palace, Mumbai, was a very quiet family affair.
Although nothing much is known about Rishad's tall and attractive wife, it is said that she also belongs to the no-nonsense clan. It is said she would fit the bill of an ideal Wipro bahurani as her non-nonsense attitude will be an asset in the business world.
Rishad, prior to marriage, has had his share of fun too. An ardent party-lover, he was spotted on several occasions at trendy night spots in Bangalore along with Aditi.
Family: Rishad is the son of Azim and Yasmeen. His younger brother Tariq, who is currently with the Azim Premji Foundation, is more of a friend. Rishad is basically a family man and any spare time is exclusively reserved for family. Like most Indian men he is closer to his mother and looks up to his father who he considers as his icon.
