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{{Short description|Indian businessman (born 1967)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2014}}
{{buzzword|date=November 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Vishal Sikka
| image = VishalSikkaSapphireOrlando2010.jpg
| caption = Founder and CEO of Vianai Systems
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|5|1|df=y}}
| birth_place = Shajapur, Madhya Pradesh, India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| alma mater = [[Stanford University]] (Ph.D. in Computer Science)<ref>{{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}}</ref><br />[[Syracuse University]] (B.S. in Computer Science) <br />[[Rosary High School (Vadodara)|Rosary High School]] (Vadodara)
| spouse =
}}

'''Vishal Sikka''' (born May, 1967) is the Founder and CEO of [[Vianai]],<ref>{{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}}</ref> former CTO of [[SAP AG]], and former CEO of [[Infosys]]. He currently also serves on Oracle's board of directors,<ref>{{cite web |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}}</ref> the supervisory board of the BMW Group<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.automotiveworld.com/news-releases/bmw-group-sets-strategic-course-under-challenging-conditions/|title = BMW Group sets strategic course under challenging conditions|date = 15 March 2019}}</ref> and as an advisor to the Stanford Institute of Human-Centered AI.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hai.stanford.edu/people/vishal-sikka|title = Vishal Sikka}}</ref>

His current endeavor, Vianai, is a startup based in the San Francisco Bay Area that provides advanced technological software and services in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to large companies around the world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/new-startup-aims-use-ai-amplify-humanity/|title = Vishal Sikka: How AI Can be Used to 'Amplify Humanity'}}</ref>

Prior, Sikka served as Executive Vice Chairman, CEO, and [[Managing director|MD]] of [[Infosys]]. On 18 August 2017 he stepped down as [[managing director]] of [[Infosys]]. He left his role as Executive Vice Chairman of Infosys on 24 August 2017 when [[Nandan Nilekani]] was appointed as the new Non Executive Chairman of the Board. Prior to joining Infosys, Sikka was a member of the Executive Board and the Global Managing Board of [[SAP AG]], leading all [[SAP SE|SAP]] products and innovation globally. In his 12 years at SAP, Sikka led SAP's product portfolio including the in-memory platform, [[SAP HANA]], and all its applications, cloud and technology solutions. Sikka left the SAP board in May 2014,<ref>{{cite web|title=SAP Announces Leadership Appointments Project|url=http://www.news-sap.com/sap-announces-leadership-appointments-drive-scale-adoption-sap-cloud-powered-sap-hana/|publisher=SAP AG|access-date=4 May 2014}}</ref> and was announced as [[Chief executive officer|CEO]] and [[Managing Director|MD]] of [[Infosys]] on 12 June 2014.<ref name="ceo" />

After three years at Infosys, Sikka left on 18 August 2017.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

''[[India Today]]'' magazine ranked him #32nd in India's 50 Most powerful people of 2017 list.<ref>{{cite news|title=India's 50 powerful people|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-today-top-50-powerful-indians-mukesh-ambani-ratan-tata-kumar-mangalam-birla-gautam-adani-anand-mahindra-srk-amitabh-bacchan/1/928939.html|publisher=[[India Today]]|date=April 14, 2017}}</ref>

==Early life and career==
Sikka was born in [[Shajapur]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[India]] to Punjabi parents - an officer in the [[Indian Railways]] and a teacher. 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 School of Engineering|Stanford University]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> His dissertation was titled ''Integrating Specialized Procedures into Proof Systems'' and his thesis advisor was [[Michael Genesereth]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

[[Marvin Minsky]], one of the fathers of AI, wrote a recommendation letter for Sikka for his admission to Stanford. [[John McCarthy (computer scientist)|John McCarthy]], also known as a father of AI, was one of Sikka's teachers.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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 for Platform Technologies, responsible for application development and integration technologies and architecture, following their acquisition of Bodha.com.<ref>{{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|access-date=10 January 2012|newspaper=The Economic Times|date=2 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

==SAP==
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<ref>{{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}}</ref> CTO,<ref>{{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}}</ref> reporting to then CEO [[Henning Kagermann]]. At the time, SAP spokesman Frank Hartmann stated<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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 [[Hewlett-Packard|HP]], Sikka was named to a newly reconstituted board, along with new co-CEOs [[Bill McDermott]] and Jim Hagemann Snabe.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

On 4 May 2014, Sikka announced his departure from SAP for personal reasons<ref>{{cite news|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}}</ref> before being named leader of Infosys.

==Infosys==
On 12 June 2014, [[Infosys|Infosys Ltd]], India's second-largest IT services exporter, named Sikka as its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director.<ref name="ceo">{{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}}</ref> Sikka took over from then-CEO S.D. Shibulal, one of Infosys' founders, on 1 August.<ref>{{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}}</ref> He was inducted as a whole-time director of the Board and CEO & MD (Designate) of Infosys on 14 June.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infosys.com/newsroom/press-releases/Pages/ceo-announcement.aspx|title=Infosys to appoint Dr. Vishal Sikka as Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director|first=Infosys|last=Limited|website=www.infosys.com|access-date=20 September 2017}}</ref> His annual compensation was set at $13 million and stock options worth $9million.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Vishal Sikka resigned from Infosys as MD and CEO on 18 August 2017. He was replaced by Pravin Rao on 24 August 2017.

==Vianai==
In 2019, Sikka founded Vianai, an AI company, with $50 million in initial funding<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1769724/000095017219000061/xslFormDX01/primary_doc.xml|title = Sec Form D}}</ref> and advisors that included Indra Nooyi, John Etchemendy, Divesh Makan, Sebastian Thrun, and Alan Kay.<ref>{{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}} </ref>

In a demo of the platform on Sept. 17, 2019, at Oracle Open World,<ref>https://www.oracle.com/openworld/featured-speakers.html {{Bare URL inline|date=September 2022}}</ref> Sikka revealed the company had created its own programming language to enable more developers and companies to utilize AI and Machine Learning techniques.<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1174110308320727040|user=vsikka|title=A glimpse of a breakthrough we’ve been working on... |date=17 September 2019}}</ref>

== Oracle ==
Oracle this week announced (December 2019) that Dr. Vishal Sikka, has been named to Oracle's Board of Directors. Before starting Vianai, Vishal was a top executive at SAP and the CEO of Infosys. As a part of the board, he would be providing strategic vision and expert advice on [[Oracle Cloud]] and its services.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Additional background==
In 2008, Sikka joined the executive board of the [[CTO Forum]], an influential industry non-profit community.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The same year, he articulated his vision of 'Timeless Software' – software that does not cause disruption to the user as technology landscapes evolve – and proposed that this be a key pillar of SAP's future development efforts.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sikka|first=Vishal|title=Timelessness|date=22 October 2008|url=http://vishalsikka.blogspot.com/2008/10/timeless-software.html|publisher=Blogger.com|access-date=11 January 2012}}</ref>

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.

Sikka served as a member of the advisory board for [[Coghead]] from 2006 to 2009 along with industry influencers [[Steve Bourne]], [[Guy Kawasaki]] and [[John Seely Brown]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> Coghead was acquired by SAP in 2009.

Sikka has been an influential advocate for [[SAP HANA|HANA]], SAP's new [[in-memory database]] technology. He spearheaded the development of HANA since his appointment as CTO with support from [[Hasso Plattner]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> Since assuming his seat on the executive board, he has spoken on multiple occasions<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> about the potential of HANA as a breakthrough in the [[enterprise software]] space.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|35em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/15345487 Bloomberg Profile]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sikka, Vishal}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:American technology chief executives]]
[[Category:SAP SE people]]
[[Category:Stanford University alumni]]
[[Category:Syracuse University College of Engineering and Computer Science alumni]]
[[Category:Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda alumni]]
[[Category:American chief technology officers]]
[[Category:Infosys people]]

Vishal Sikka - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Add new article