Vishal Sikka

Sikka was born in Shajapur, Madhya Pradesh, India to Punjabi parents - an officer in the Indian Railways and a teacher.{{cite news|last=Nandakumar|first=Indu|title=Vishal Sikka: My wife calls me a fake Punjabi|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-news/Vishal-Sikka-My-wife-calls-me-a-fake-Punjabi/articleshow/36471702.cms|newspaper=Times of India|date=13 June 2014}} His family moved to Vadodara in Gujarat when he was six. He did his schooling in Kendriya Vidyalaya, Rajkot and thereafter at a Christian school named Rosary High School (Vadodara). Sikka joined the bachelors in Computer Engineering course at Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, which he discontinued to go to Syracuse University in New York where he earned a B.S. in Computer Science. He completed his Ph.D. in 1996 from Stanford University.{{cite web|last=Genesereth|first=Michael|title=Ph.D. Graduates, Stanford University, Dept. of Computer Science|url=http://logic.stanford.edu/people/genesereth/phds.html|access-date=10 January 2012}} His dissertation was titled Integrating Specialized Procedures into Proof Systems and his thesis advisor was Michael Genesereth.{{cite web|title=Vishal Sikka: Mathematics Genealogy Project|url=http://genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=71406|publisher=American Mathematical Society|access-date=10 January 2012}}

Marvin Minsky, one of the fathers of AI, wrote a recommendation letter for Sikka for his admission to Stanford. John McCarthy, also known as a father of AI, was one of Sikka's professors.{{cite web|url=http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/vishal-sikka-ceo-of-infosys/|title=Vishal Sikka: Reaching for the Future without Abandoning Infosys's Past - Knowledge@Wharton|access-date=20 September 2017}}

After a brief stint at Xerox's research labs, Sikka founded iBrain which competed at the time with Business Objects. iBrain was acquired by PatternRX, Inc. His second startup, Bodha.com, focused on developing technology for non-invasive, service-based integration of enterprise applications and information. Sikka joined Peregrine Systems as their area vice-president following their acquisition of Bodha.com.{{cite news|last=Mishra|first=Pankaj|title=Vishal Sikka: We're running 20 start-ups at SAP|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-12-02/news/27569524_1_business-objects-biggest-business-software-maker-entrepreneur|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717150902/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-12-02/news/27569524_1_business-objects-biggest-business-software-maker-entrepreneur|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 July 2014|access-date=10 January 2012|newspaper=The Economic Times|date=2 December 2010}}{{cite web|title=Information Integration for e-Commerce|url=http://infolab.stanford.edu/infoseminar.Archive/FallY99/sikka-1022.html|publisher=Stanford University Infolab|access-date=10 January 2012}}

Sikka joined SAP in 2002 to head up the advanced technology group responsible for strategic innovative projects. Later he was promoted to senior vice president of architecture and chief software architect, responsible for the road map and the direction for the architecture of SAP products and infrastructure.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}

In April 2007, Sikka was named SAP's first-ever{{cite news|last=Wailgum|first=Thomas|title=SAP's first ever CTO prepares for battle|url=http://www.computerworlduk.com/in-depth/applications/2319/saps-first-ever-cto-prepares-for-battle/|access-date=10 January 2012|newspaper=Computerworld UK|date=18 June 2009}} CTO,{{cite web|last=Khan|first=Shabana|title=SAP Appoints Vishal Sikka as Chief Technology Officer; Establishes New Office of the CTO under Sikka's Leadership|url=http://www.sap.com/corporate-en/press.epx?pressid=7803|publisher=SAP Global Communications|access-date=10 January 2012}} reporting to then CEO Henning Kagermann. At the time, SAP spokesman Frank Hartmann stated{{cite news|last=Niccolai|first=James|title=SAP Names Vishal Sikka as Its First CTO|url=http://www.cio.com/article/113801/SAP_Names_Vishal_Sikka_as_Its_First_CTO|access-date=10 January 2012|newspaper=CIO Magazine|date=30 May 2007}} that SAP felt it needed a CTO to oversee some broad changes that were under way at the company, including its renewed focus on the mid-market, the introduction of new on-demand products, and the continued roll out of NetWeaver and its SOA strategy.

In the wake of Léo Apotheker's resignation from the executive board in 2010 to become CEO of HP, Sikka was named to a newly reconstituted board, along with new co-CEOs Bill McDermott and Jim Hagemann Snabe.{{cite news|last=Wailgum|first=Thomas|title=SAP's "Third" CEO: Vishal Sikka|url=http://blogs.cio.com/thomas_wailgum/10394/saps_third_ceo_vishal_sikka|access-date=11 January 2012|newspaper=CIO Magazine|date=17 May 2010}}

On 4 May 2014, Sikka announced his departure from SAP after being named leader of Infosys.{{cite press release|title=May 4, 2014 Press Release by SAP News| url=http://www.news-sap.com/sap-announces-leadership-appointments-drive-scale-adoption-sap-cloud-powered-sap-hana/|access-date=4 May 2014|newspaper=SAP News|date=4 May 2014}}

Sikka was named to Oracle's board of directors in December 2019.{{cite press release |title=Oracle Names Vishal Sikka to the Board of Directors |url=https://www.oracle.com/corporate/pressrelease/vishal-sikka-named-to-board-of-directors-120919.html |publisher=Oracle Corporation |date=2019-12-09}}{{Cite web|url=https://analyticsindiamag.com/vishal-sikka-joins-oracles-board-of-directors/|title=Vishal Sikka Joins Oracle's Board Of Directors|last=Hebbar|first=Prajakta|date=2019-12-10|website=Analytics India Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-10}}

On 12 June 2014, Infosys Ltd, India's second-largest IT services exporter, named Sikka as its chief executive officer and managing director.{{cite web|title=Vishal Sikka to be CEO and MD of Infosys from August 1|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/06/vishal-sikka-to-be-ceo-and-md-of-infosys-from-august-1/|publisher=news.biharprabha.com|access-date=12 June 2014}} Sikka took over from then-CEO S.D. Shibulal, one of Infosys' founders, on 1 August.{{cite web|url=http://gadgets.ndtv.com/others/news/infosys-names-vishal-sikka-as-first-external-ceo-540106?pfrom=home-rightnow|title=Infosys Names Vishal Sikka First External CEO; Chairman Murthy to Step Down|date=12 June 2014 |access-date=20 September 2017}} He was inducted as a whole-time director of the Board and CEO & MD (Designate) of Infosys on 14 June.{{cite web |last=Limited |first=Infosys |title=Infosys to appoint Dr. Vishal Sikka as Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director |url=http://www.infosys.com/newsroom/press-releases/Pages/ceo-announcement.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701081254/http://www.infosys.com/newsroom/press-releases/Pages/ceo-announcement.aspx |archive-date=2014-07-01 |access-date=20 September 2017 |website=www.infosys.com}} His annual compensation was set at $13 million and stock options worth $9million.{{cite news|title=Here's all you wanted to know about Infosys head honcho Vishal Sikka's salary |newspaper=The Economic Times|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/57056305.cms}} Vishal Sikka resigned from Infosys as MD and CEO on 18 August 2017.{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/vishal-shake-up-at-infosys-sikka-logs-out-as-ceo/1/1028976.html|title=Vishal shake up at Infosys; Sikka logs out as CEO|newspaper=India Today |date=18 August 2017 |access-date=20 September 2017}} He was replaced on interim basis by U. B. Pravin Rao on 24 August 2017.

In 2019, Sikka founded Vianai, an AI company, with $50 million in initial funding{{Cite web|url=https://www.fortuneindia.com/people/vishal-sikkas-ai-startup-gets-50-mn-funding/103575|title = Vishal Sikka's AI startup gets $50-mn funding| date=3 September 2019 }} and advisors that included Indra Nooyi, John Etchemendy, Divesh Makan, Sebastian Thrun, and Alan Kay.{{cite press release| url = https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ceo-and-founder-of-vianai-dr-vishal-sikka-demoed-a-new-ai-platform-vision-today-at-oracle-open-world-300920279.html| title = CEO And Founder of Vianai, Dr. Vishal Sikka, Demoed a New AI Platform Vision Today at Oracle Open World}} {{Cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1769724/000095017219000061/xslFormDX01/primary_doc.xml|title = Sec Form D}}

During a platform demo on September 17, 2019, Sikka said that Vianai had created its own programming language to enable more developers and companies to utilize AI and Machine Learning techniques.{{cite web| url=https://www.oracle.com/openworld/featured-speakers.html | title=Oracle OpenWorld - Featured Speakers | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107023049/https://www.oracle.com/openworld/featured-speakers.html | archive-date=2016-11-07}}{{cite tweet|number=1174110308320727040|user=vsikka|title=A glimpse of a breakthrough we’ve been working on... |date=17 September 2019}}

In 2008, Sikka joined the executive board of the CTO Forum, an industry non-profit community.{{cite web|title=SAP CTO Vishal Sikka Joins CTO Forum Executive Board|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2008/07/19/idUS13254+19-Jul-2008+BW20080719|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403073309/http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/07/19/idUS13254+19-Jul-2008+BW20080719|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 April 2015|publisher=Reuters (Press Release)|access-date=11 January 2012}}

He has expressed his admiration for industry visionary Alan Kay and contributed a chapter to Points of View, a tribute on Kay's 70th birthday.{{cn|date=July 2023}}

Sikka served as a member of the advisory board for Coghead from 2006 to 2009 along with Steve Bourne, Guy Kawasaki and John Seely Brown.{{cite news|last=Harris|first=Mimi|title=Industry Luminaries Throw Their Weight Behind Coghead|url=http://m2m.tmcnet.com/news/2006/10/03/1948561.htm|access-date=12 January 2012|newspaper=Business Wire / Eastwick Communications|date=3 October 2006}} Coghead was acquired by SAP in 2009.

Sikka has been an advocate for HANA, SAP's in-memory database technology. He spearheaded the development of HANA since his appointment as CTO with support from Hasso Plattner.{{cite news|last=Bjorlin|first=Courtney|title=Vishal Sikka Gets Real on SAP HANA Benefits and Barriers|url=http://www.asugnews.com/2011/09/21/vishal-sikka-gets-real-on-sap-hana-benefits-and-barriers/|access-date=12 January 2012|newspaper=ASUG News|date=21 September 2011}}{{cite news|last=Kanaracus|first=Chris|title=SAP's HANA in-memory analytics engine now available|url=http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/390828/sap_hana_in-memory_analytics_engine_now_available/|access-date=12 January 2012|newspaper=PCWorld Australia|date=21 June 2011}}{{cite news|last=Talbot|first=Chris|title=SAP TechEd: SAP bets big on HANA|url=http://www.channelbuzz.ca/2011/09/sap-teched-sap-bets-big-on-hana-2422/|access-date=12 January 2012|newspaper=ChannelBuzz Canada|date=13 September 2011}}{{cite news|last=Henschen|first=Doug|title=SAP: We'll Be No. 2 Database Player By 2015|url=http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/enterprise_apps/232300472|access-date=12 January 2012|newspaper=Information Week|date=14 December 2011}}{{cite news|last=Kwinika|first=Savious|title=SAP wants all ERP use HANA|url=http://cajnewsagency.com/index.php/technology/software/200-sap-wants-all-erp-use-hana|access-date=12 January 2012|newspaper=CAJ News|date=10 November 2011}}

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Category:Living people

Category:1967 births

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