Kris Gopalakrishnan, Entrepreneur and Co-founder of Infosys
Entrepreneur and Co-founder of Infosys

Kris Gopalakrishnan

Born 5 April 1955 · Kerala

Co-founded Infosys and served as its CEO and managing director from 2007 to 2011.

Senapathy “Kris” Gopalakrishnan is an Indian businessman and the chairman of Axilor Ventures, a startup accelerator. He is one of the co-founders of Infosys, having served as its CEO and managing director from 2007 to 2011 and vice chairman from 2011 to 2014.

✨

A detail that
surprised us

“

In 2006, Infosys became the first company from Asia to ring the NASDAQ opening bell, with Kris Gopalakrishnan standing alongside Narayana Murthy during the event.

The Story

1
🌟 In 1979, Kris Gopalakrishnan began his career as a software engineer at Patni Computer Systems in Mumbai, the same year he completed his M.Tech. in Computer Science from IIT Madras, setting the stage for his future in the Indian IT revolution.
2
In 1981, he co-founded Infosys in Pune alongside six others, pioneering remote software development for global clients and transforming India’s IT outsourcing landscape.
3🚀 From 2007 to 2011, as CEO and Managing Director of Infosys, Gopalakrishnan led the company through a period of rapid growth, including crossing $6 billion in revenue and expanding to 130,820 employees by 2011.
4In 2011, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India, recognising his role in shaping the modern Indian technology industry.

🏅 Awards & Honours

2011
Padma Bhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

“

In 2009, Kris Gopalakrishnan was named to the Thinkers 50, an elite global list of business thinkers, highlighting his influence beyond India’s IT sector.

🖼️

Through the Years

5 photographs from the archives
Kris Gopalakrishnan speaking at the World Economic Forum's India Economic Summit in New Delhi (2008).
Kris Gopalakrishnan speaking at the World Economic Forum's India Economic Summit in New Delhi (2008).
2008
Kris Gopalakrishnan during the Karnataka reception at the Horasis Global India Business Meeting (2009).
Kris Gopalakrishnan at the India Economic Summit plenary session in Mumbai (2011).
Kris Gopalakrishnan co-chairing the World Economic Forum on India (2012).
Kris Gopalakrishnan participating in a panel discussion at Startup Village (2013).

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Born in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Senapathy Kris Gopalakrishnan was born on April 5, 1955, in the city of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
1955
📚
Education
Completed M.Sc. in Physics at IIT Madras
Gopalakrishnan earned his Master of Science degree in Physics from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.
1977
📚
Education
Completed M.Tech. in Computer Science at IIT Madras
He completed his Master of Technology in Computer Science before starting work as a software engineer in Mumbai.
1979
⚡
Career
Started career at Patni Computer Systems
Gopalakrishnan began his professional journey as a software engineer at Patni Computer Systems in Mumbai.
1979
⚡
Career
Co-founded Infosys
Along with six others, Kris co-founded Infosys, a company that would become a global IT services leader.
1981
⚡
Career
Became CEO and Managing Director of Infosys
Kris Gopalakrishnan took charge as CEO and MD, steering Infosys through critical growth years until 2011.
2007
🏅
Award
Received Padma Bhushan
The Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan, recognizing his contributions to technology and business.
2011
⚡
Career
Elected President of CII
He was elected president of the Confederation of Indian Industry for 2013–14 and co-chaired the World Economic Forum in Davos.
2013
⚡
Career
Co-founded Axilor Ventures
Post-Infosys, Kris co-founded Axilor Ventures to accelerate startups, impacting India's emerging entrepreneurial ecosystem.
2014
More moments to come...
+ Add a moment

🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 05
🔍LESSER KNOWN

He chairs the Reserve Bank of India Innovation Hub (RBIH), a government initiative to promote fintech innovation, reflecting his role in shaping India’s financial technology landscape.

02 / 05
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Kris Gopalakrishnan co-authored 'Against All Odds – The IT Story of India,' documenting the rise of the Indian IT industry from its early days.

03 / 05
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

He has been a key figure in the Aadhaar biometric ID initiative discussions, leveraging smartphone penetration to enable banking access for over a billion Indians.

“

"In today’s world, where there is so much transparency and diffusion of knowledge, I believe our lead in practicing GDM is very small.... We have to constantly innovate, add new capabilities, and increase the effectiveness of the service we deliver."

— Kris Gopalakrishnan

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
The Untold Story Of Infosys: Narayana Murthy On Co-Founder Kris Gopalakrishnan | EXCLUSIVE
·YouTube
More from this archive
The Untold Story Of Infosys: Narayana Murthy On Co-Founder Kris Gopalakrishnan | EXCLUSIVE
01
The Untold Story Of Infosys: Narayana Murthy On Co-Founder Kris Gopalakrishnan | EXCLUSIVE
YouTube
The IT Story of India | Interview with S Kris Gopalakrishnan by Milee Ashwarya
02
The IT Story of India | Interview with S Kris Gopalakrishnan by Milee Ashwarya
YouTube
Kris Gopalakrishnan’s Investment Areas | ET Now Startup Central
03
Kris Gopalakrishnan’s Investment Areas | ET Now Startup Central
YouTube
Ceremonial Speech by Kris Gopalakrishnan,Co-founder and former CEO of Infosys
04
Ceremonial Speech by Kris Gopalakrishnan,Co-founder and former CEO of Infosys
YouTube
Harnessing AI Technology To Stay Relevant | Kris Gopalakrishnan, Murali Doraiswamy | ITConclave 2018
05
Harnessing AI Technology To Stay Relevant | Kris Gopalakrishnan, Murali Doraiswamy | ITConclave 2018
YouTube
India Third Best Location For Startups In The World: Kris Gopalakrishnan| India Today Conclave South
06
India Third Best Location For Startups In The World: Kris Gopalakrishnan| India Today Conclave South
YouTube
Davos 2011 - Kris Gopalakrishnan, Infosys
07
Davos 2011 - Kris Gopalakrishnan, Infosys
YouTube
You Create Business To Serve Customer: Infosys Co-Founder | India Today Conclave South
08
You Create Business To Serve Customer: Infosys Co-Founder | India Today Conclave South
YouTube
Against all Odds: The IT Story of India
09
Against all Odds: The IT Story of India
YouTube
BASD2012 - Kris Gopalakrishnan Speech
10
BASD2012 - Kris Gopalakrishnan Speech
YouTube

🌱 What changed because of them

Kris Gopalakrishnan helped transform Infosys from a small startup into a global IT powerhouse with over 130,000 employees and $6 billion in revenue, setting standards for remote software development. His leadership roles in institutions like CII and various educational boards have influenced policies promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in India. Through Axilor Ventures and his philanthropic efforts, he has fostered a vibrant startup ecosystem and supported cutting-edge scientific research in brain sciences and ageing.

💬 Social Buzz

💬

What are people saying about Kris Gopalakrishnan?

Share posts from historians, journalists and notable voices about this icon. 🇮🇳

💭 Memories & Tributes

Share your memory of Kris Gopalakrishnan...
Loading memories...
Is this profile accurate?