The Hindu Business Line : Premji turns a charmer, casts a spell

The first in a long time the usually stern-looking tycoon was seen wreathed in smiles, joking and relaxed at such an event. "We want good press," said Mr Premji, acknowledging his changed attitude and the impact of the coverage and speculation he and the company had come in for since Mr Paul announced his exit.

It was also the first in a long time Mr Premji tried to charm the seemingly unfavourable media.

The first time he did not frown upon the photographers jostling for a better position as they shot pictures of India's richest man, who manages to make news whether he smiles or frowns.

Mr Premji said he was still on the best of terms with Mr Paul - even going so far as to suggest that Mr Paul might bring in business for Wipro or enable it to make acquisitions of technology firms.

Wipro would not fill the position Mr Paul had vacated and had five CEOs instead of one, Mr Premji said, adding that the company's current structure was not a temporary one but was for the long term. "The top management comprises people who grew with Wipro."

He even subjected some of his top management to some ribbing, saying the deep-voiced COO, Mr A.L. Rao, had the "voice of Marlon Brando" and that Mr Sudip Banerjee, President, Enterprise Solutions, "looked like a movie star".

A very surprising first for Premji was his dig at rival Infosys when he said the latter was `still struggling" to establish a structure around verticals - as Wipro had.

More in store. Mr Premji would say (tongue firmly in cheek) that he and the Wipro top management would have got no attention at all had Mr Vivek Paul been present at the earnings announcement.

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Premji turns a charmer, casts a spell