Wipro, a global IT firm, has appointed N S Kannan as an Additional Director to its leadership board, effective from October 1 onwards. His appointment as an Independent Director will span the next five years, subject to shareholders' approval, the IT company stated in a BSE filing on August 10, 2023.

Taking on this new role, Kannan brings with him over 30 years of experience in the financial services domain, encompassing Banking and Insurance. He has recently retired from his position as the MD & CEO at ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Co. Ltd. Throughout his tenure in this capacity, he orchestrated the Company's transformation into a diversified business with a range of products and channels. Within the ICICI group, he has held several notable positions, including that of Executive Director & CFO of ICICI Bank.

Beyond his roles as Chairman/Non-Executive Director in various companies within the ICICI group, Kannan has also actively contributed to numerous committees established by the Government of India and various regulatory bodies. These contributions encompass his appointment by the RBI as an advisor for the inaugural resolution of DHFL under the Indian Bankruptcy Code, his membership in SEBI's Corporate Bonds and Securitization Advisory Committee, his chairmanship of the Regulatory Review Committee established by Life & General Insurance Councils, his membership in the Insurance Advisory Committee constituted by IRDAI, and his involvement in the RBI Steering Committee tasked with implementing Indian Accounting Standards.

Rishad Premji, Chairman of Wipro, welcomed Kannan on board, stating, “We are pleased to welcome Kannan to our Board. He is a veteran of the financial services industry, and Wipro will greatly benefit from his leadership experience and expertise across Finance, Strategy, Corporate Governance, Risk Management, and beyond.”

Expressing his enthusiasm about his new role at Wipro, N S Kannan remarked, “I am excited and honoured to join the Board of Wipro, an iconic, value-driven company that is a key technology partner to some of the most respected clients globally. I look forward to contributing to its next phase of growth and impact.”

Kannan holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from NIT, Trichy, as well as a Chartered Financial Analyst credential from the ICFAI, along with a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from IIM, Bangalore.