Infosys has hired executive search firm Egon Zehnder for a "global mapping exercise" to identify and shortlist possible external candidates who could be considered for the position of chief executive officer, two persons aware of the development told Economic Times.

While this does not mean the next Infosys chief executive will be an outsider, it does signal that a succession planning exercise has been put in motion at India's second-largest software exporter, which has been drawing flak from critics for underperforming the industry. On June 1, in an unusual move, the Bangalore-based company recalled retired co-founder NR Narayana Murthy to helm it as executive chairman for five years.

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