- Cognizant announced that Vinita Bali has been appointed to its Board as a new independent director and Vice Chairman Francisco D’Souza is departing
Cognizant has announced that Vinita Bali has been appointed to its Board as a new independent director effective February 24, 2020 and Vice Chairman Francisco D’Souza will leave the Board effective March 31, 2020.
Bali was most recently the managing director and CEO of India-based food company Britannia Industries from 2005 to 2014. Before Britannia, she spent most of her career in senior general management, corporate strategy, and marketing roles for The Coca-Cola Company and Cadbury Schweppes Plc.
“We are delighted that Vinita Bali has joined the Cognizant Board,” said Michael Patsalos-Fox, Cognizant’s Chairman of the Board. “We believe Vinita’s extensive and successful experience at large companies, both India-based and multinational, will make a significant contribution to Cognizant.”
And Bali is a member of the Boards of NYSE-listed agribusiness and food company Bunge Ltd., global portfolio medical technology business Smith & Nephew Plc., India-listed research and manufacturing company Syngene International Ltd., and analytics company CRISIL Ltd. Previously, she served on the boards of several other companies listed on the NYSE or in India.
“A key architect of Cognizant, Frank helped lead the company through a quarter-century of remarkable growth and success. He leaves a powerful and unforgettable legacy as a global thinker, mentor, builder, and champion of initiatives that improve lives in our communities,” added Patsalos-Fox.
Francisco D’Souza was elected to Cognizant’s Board of Directors in January 2007 and served as Vice Chairman since June 2018. D’Souza had co-founded Cognizant in 1994 and served as the company’s CEO from January 2007 through March 2019. And in addition to his tenure as CEO, D’Souza served as President from 2007 to 2012 and held a variety of senior management positions, including Chief Operating Officer from 2003 to 2006.
“Frank has been an extraordinary leader. He deserves enormous recognition for his achievements at Cognizant. On a personal level, I am fortunate to have him as a trusted confidant and sounding board,” explained Cognizant CEO Brian Humphries. “I also look forward to working closely with our newly appointed independent director, Vinita Bali, who brings to our board her extensive global strategic and operational leadership experience and deep India business expertise.”
