Rupee ascent forces Infy to focus on India

Stung by the appreciating rupee, Infosys Technologies has decided to open a separate business unit for India which has been contributing a mere 1 per cent to its revenues.

India's second-largest IT services provider, which so far had not attached much importance to the domestic market on grounds that the margins were low, will open the India Business Unit on November 1.

Multinationals such as IBM and HP and Indian companies like Wipro and TCS have been much more active in the Indian market.

The company has also turned its attention to new markets such as Australia, China, Japan, West Asia, Canada, South America and Latin America. It has formed a business unit -- New Growth Engines -- that will expand the company's business in these countries.

Srinath Batni, member of the Infosys Board, has been given charge of increasing focus on delivery excellence. There will also be increased focus on R&D and commercialisation of intellectual property (IP).

The senior management team has been broadened. An Executive Council, chaired by the CEO, has been constituted and it includes the COO, CFO, executive board members and select unit heads.

It has also increased the scope for young leaders in evolving company strategy. Budding leaders below the age of 30 will be part of the management council of the business units.

The company has also formed six vertical industry business units (IBUs) and five horizontal business units (HBUs) that cut across all the vertical units.