BIO

Nandan Nilekani, Co-Chairman of Infosys Technologies Ltd, is an Indian software entrepreneur and net worth: USD $1.3 Billion. He is also a co-founder, along with N. R. Narayana Murthy and other partners

In 1981, Nilekani and six other colleague who were working in Patni Computer Systems decided to start their own company, InfoSys. The whole group was led by N. R. Narayana Murthy to complete this project.

In 2002, he became the Chief Executive Officer of Infosys, taking over from Murthy. He served as CEO and MD of the company from March 2002 to April 2007. He gave his position to his colleague Kris Gopalakrishnan and becoming Co-Chairman

Nilekani was born in Sirsi, Karnataka and second-youngest son of Durga and Mohan Rao Nilekani, a manager in Minerva Mills. He moved in with his uncle's family in Dharwad for his education, studying at Bishop Cotton Boys School, Bangalore, and attending the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay from 1973. He is a co-founder of India's National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM). He is also the chairperson of the Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF).

• In 2004, he was named one of "Asia's Power 25 – The Most Powerful People in Business in Asia" by Fortune magazine
• In 2006, he became one of the youngest entrepreneurs to join 20 global leaders on the World Economic Forum (WEF) Foundation Board.
• In 2006, he was regarded by TIME magazine as one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World"
• In 2006, he was named "Business Leader of the Year" in Asia by Forbes

Nilekani wrote a book "Imagining India" and launched on November 24, 2008. Idea of this book is:

• Democracy, globalization and demography have had on India's growth and development.
• Slow progress in the areas of infrastructure and the provision of primary education to all, to the ideological deadlock when it comes to politics, higher education and labor reforms.
• Ideas that are vital to cementing India's position as a global power - that of its social security provisions, its policies on clean energy and the environment.
• Its ability to deal with lifestyle-related diseases and ailments.

His wife, Rohini Nilekani, is an English-language writer and novelist. They have two children, a daughter Janhavi and a son Nihar, both of whom attend Yale University.

Net worth: USD $1.3 Billion