Kerala - Kochi   

State on the lookout for a new Infopark CEO

KOCHI: Infopark Kochi, the premier IT institution of the State government, will have a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) shortly as the present incumbent Siddhartha Bhattacharya has turned down a two-year extension offered to him by the State government.

An advertisement for the post stated that Infopark is “on the lookout for a highly competent and energetic professional for immediate appointment as CEO.” He, however, will continue to discharge his duties till the new CEO assumes charge, it is learned.

On contacted by T he Hindu over phone Ajay Kumar, Principal Secretary, State Department of Information Technology, confirmed the change.

He said that Mr. Bhattacharya was appointed for a two-year term from 2008 to 2010. “When offered a two year extension he denied it citing personal reasons,” Mr. Kumar said.

He said that the new CEO will be selected subject to the approval of the Cabinet based on a preliminary scrutiny of the applicants followed by interview of the shortlisted few.

Among the requirements sought for the prospective CEO include post graduate degree in business administration from a reputed institute with a basic degree in engineering, seven years' experience, of which at least five years should be in a senior decision making level, and excellent communication, judgment and interpersonal skills to positively impact and influence the emerging environment to attract prospective investors.

Mr. Bhattacharya, with prior experience in sales leadership, consulting, e-business and as delivery head of large BPO operations, assumed charge as CEO of Infopark in April 2008.

He presided over a period when Infopark witnessed phenomenal growth.

During his term Infopark exports grew by 87 per cent with the total turnover touching $130 million on the back of a strong growth in Special Economic Zone business and exports which grew over 250 per cent year-on-year.

Earlier this year, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan laid the foundation stone for the second phase expansion of Infopark on 160 acres of land in Kunnathunadu and Puthencruz villages.

Mr. Achuthanandan inaugurated in June this year Athulya, a new building complex at Infopark with a total built up area of 5.5 lakh sq. ft. with capacity to house a software development block with an area of 3.5 lakh sq. ft, and an four-lane Infopark Expressway, which connects the Airport - Seaport road and Athulya.

It was during his term that the hub and spoke model of developing IT parks was conceptualized. Koratty IT Park has already turned operational and houses 14 companies. Work on a similar park at Cherthala and the one at Ambalapuzha, conceived as a water theme IT Park, is also progressing.

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