The partners of Ernst & Young India appointed Jairaj Purandare as the chairman and Rajiv Memani as the new chief executive officer and country managing partner of the accounting firm.
The two will assume their responsibilities after April 1, 2004, when present chairman and country managing partner Kashi N Memani retires.
K N Memani said, "It was a unanimous decision of the firm's 55 partners."
As the CEO and CMP, 37-year old Rajiv Memani, who is Kashi Memani's son and currently heads E&Y India's corporate finance practice, will manage the firm's day-to-day operations.
Purandare, 44, was the national tax head for Andersen prior to the merger of the company with E&Y in May 2001.
As chairman, he will be involved in maintaining top-level contacts and be responsible for oversight of the partners.
Bobby Parikh had recently resigned as the CEO of E&Y citing personal reasons.
The new leadership structure is subtly different from the past, with the post of chairman and country managing partner being split.
In a press statement issued today, Kashi Memani said, "The partners in our new leadership have demonstrated their capabilities, having successfully managed and led our different service lines over the years."
Rajiv Memani has been with E&Y for over 15 years now. He had joined the firm in 1987.
Paul Ostling, Chief Operating Officer, E&Y Global, who was also present at the meeting said, "With its immense intellectual talent and the emergence of Indian enterprise at the global level, we see tremendous potential for our Indian practice."
