Cognizant snags top Wipro client

Cognizant has hired at least eight senior executives from Indian IT giants over the past 12 months

- Jas Bardia

In a blow to Bengaluru-based information technology (IT) services major Wipro Ltd, a $400 million, 10-year outsourcing contract that the company won in 2014 has now gone to its rival Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.

Nasdaq-listed Cognizant announced last week that it would manage the IT infrastructure of Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, Asia’s biggest healthcare company. Cognizant did not disclose the financials and the tenure of the contract.

"Cognizant's long-standing relationship with Takeda combined with our digital transformation expertise will ensure that we are able to support Takeda's aspiration to become one of the most trusted, science-driven, digital biopharmaceutical companies," said Surya Gummadi, executive vice-president and president of Cognizant Americas, in a 25 January statement.

Mint could not independently ascertain why Takeda chose Cognizant over Wipro, but some analysts believe it is on account of a more stable leadership at Cognizant and also the latter's strength in the life sciences segment.