FC Kohli, first CEO of TCS and father of Indian IT industry, passes away at 96

Faqir Chand Kohli, Indian software industry doyen and the first chief executive of Tata Consultancy Services, passed away in Mumbai on Thursday. He was 96.

Kohli believed in grooming leaders and built a generation of Indian information technology professionals who went on to industry-leading positions.

“He was a true legend who laid the very foundations for India’s spectacular IT revolution and set the stage for the dynamic modern economy we enjoy today,” said N Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons, who was hired by Kohli in 1987. “I have had the honour and privilege of working with and learning from Mr Kohli from the day he hired me as a trainee in TCS,” he added.