Lifetime Achievement Award: The Change Agent

The Institute of Informatics and Communication (IIC), Delhi ran this epitaph
for Arun Kumar on its portal following his sad and sudden demise. The intonation
of the epitaph appropriately depicts Kumar's relation not just with IIC, but
the Indian IT industry and a host of other organizations or bodies like Nasscom
and TiE, with which he has had close relations throughout his life. The man had
indeed left his footprints on the sands of time; prints that are so large that
even the Indian IT industry with its galaxy of eminent personalities might find
difficult to locate a suitable match.

The Quintessential People's Man

It would be short-sighted if Kumar's contribution to Indian IT is
remembered only through his achievements at FSS or Flextronics Software Systems
(formerly known as Hughes). After all he shepherded the difficult years of
transition at Nasscom, between Dewang's sudden departure (another similar and
sudden tragedy) and finding Kiran Karnik. That involved working with a large
number of CEOs with varying egos; and this, definitely, needed the skilful but
diplomatic and humane handling power of Kumar.

Leaving his endearing footprints on the sands of time, But when Heavens' make the calling, the mortals must sublime. Sublimed did he, who brought us all to light, Cause when fate summons, 'unconquerable' is its might. "Conquer the universe", his words which enlightened our being, He said "explore life's beauty and question your seeing". Live, he will, always in the dreams we vision, The glorious hands which carved us, The founder of our life's mission.....

Of new Nasscom initiatives, Kumar was the driving force behind opening up the
avenue of collaboration with the Pakistan IT industry and instrumental in first
inviting a delegation from there to the annual Nasscom meet. He was also closely
associated with the tech entrepreneurial movement that started with TiE, and has
now become the Band of Angels. His role at TiE epitomized the spirit that drives
innovation and excellence in the Indian IT, or should it be said in the
innovation economy.

His mentoring role is best summed up by Alok Mittal, an ex-Hughes man, whose
entrepreneurial venture was encouraged by Kumar: “Kumar has been a mentor to
me, and this is a personal loss for me. One of his qualities that struck me most
was his ability to trust people-he was one guy who I knew would back me with
his eyes closed. He was someone who backed instincts rather than logic, and once
he knew what you wanted, he never let his opinion come in your way. He was a
strong motivator for me to do a startup when I was at Hughes, and backed me all
through it.”

Even then it would be to belittle his memory if his remembrance of his
contribution is restricted to company and Nasscom and TiE only. An innovator in
organization and people practices, Kumar encouraged experimentation and
spearheaded a number of initiatives such as 360 degree feedback, and
employee-driven CSR, which have now become identified as pioneering workplace
practices in the IT industry.

Arun Kumar 1947-2006

After all, Kumar's biggest asset was not his focus on growth and
profitability, but his strong emphasis on the 'people' element that even won
his company several 'Best Employer' awards from various publications and
fora. Some of these are Business Today-Mercer, Businessworld-Grow Talent, HRD
Congress and DMA-Watson Wyatt.  In addition to HR practices, FSS under
Kumar's tutelage also made a mark for itself in the areas of innovation and
corporate governance, having won the award for the 'Most Innovative Product
Company' from CSI and the 'Best Corporate Governance Values' by the
Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).

Gautam Brahma, an FSS employee, best brings out these qualities of Kumar.
Among other things, Kumar was a gracious, polite, and kind person. This is a
dying breed in Indian industry. There was an old-world courtesy and charm that
he brought to all his interaction with people, of all ages and stations in life.
And this was not confined to interactions at office. Kumar was the same in all
settings, public or private, at home or in office. He distinguished himself
through understated elegance, unobtrusive influence, and an unfailing commitment
to treat everyone with respect, irrespective of function, seniority or net
worth. This can only be understood and appreciated by those who have been
disadvantaged in some form and have faced discriminatory behavior in social and
official settings.

Arun Kumar: 1947-2006

Education Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the IIT, Kanpur Masters degree in Computer Science from the University of Missouri Achievements Hughes Chairman's Honor Award for Excellence CEO of the Year award from the Aspac HRD Congress Finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneurship Award Chairman of the Executive Council of NASSCOM in 2002-03 Chairman of the American Business Council in the Telecom Group Member of the Governing Council of the University of Delhi's Institute of Informatics and Communication

A Long Innings

To understand Arun Kumar's immense contribution towards the Indian IT
diaspora, we also need to talk about his long innings at FSS. After all, charity
begins at home and it seems to be the motto that has driven Kumar. He was,
without doubt, instrumental in catapulting the company to an industry leader
position today, with over 5,500 employees and revenues of Rs 880 crore in FY
2005-06. “We have lost an outstanding leadership, a true friend, and a
genuinely decent man,” says Ash Bharadwaj, CEO, FSS.

To recall just a few of his major contributions at Flextronics where he was
at the helm since January 1995, he was the guiding force behind the successful
launch of Hughes' landmark IPO in 1999. This was, incidentally, India's
first book built offer, and all companies listed after this date could empathize
with the pains involved in the process. Kumar was also instrumental in managing
the successful M&As pursed by Flextronics. This would include the GSM
support business of Lucent Technologies and Tenet Technologies in 2003 as well
as Chennai-based FutureSoft in 2005. The acquisition of Lucent's global GSM
business was literally synonymous with the revival of the telecom downturn in
India and its impact on the IT industry.

In the recent past, Kumar had also successfully spearheaded FSS'
integration into Flextronics as well as the seamless fusion of both global and
domestic software entities into the FSS fold. In fact, without the irreparable
loss of Kumar, 2005-06 was indeed a milestone year for the company, interspersed
with several key highlights-it undertook a major exercise of integrating seven
software entities into its fold; the integration helped it emerge as a stronger
entity with presence in India, South Africa, Ukraine, US, Germany and China and
with a much larger portfolio in the communication software domain. In another
key development, FSS also de-listed itself from the Indian bourses and
subsequently, Flextronics International sold its majority stake (85%) to KKR, a
US-based private equity firm. Unfortunately, however, scintillating might have
been the achievements in 2005-06, the year would forever be tinged by this
overwhelming tragedy in its history.

Some of Kumar's other key moments would include the setting up of
RightServe, one of India's first online advertising units, and prior to
assuming the leading role at Hughes, his contribution in heading Hughes Network
Systems' West Coast software operations, based in San Diego and his pioneering
work in the design and development of VSAT technology and developing a digital
standard for Hughes' entry into the cellular business. And ironically, it was
in San Diego only, the ground of many of his achievements, that the cruel hands
of angioplasty snatched him away and that too during a routine physical check
up. It goes a long way to remind us how fragile life really is.

Notwithstanding his list of achievements, Kumar's contribution at FSS is
briefly described by his unflinching calmness in steering the ship amidst all
adversities, especially the ownership changes the company underwent. As one
leading newspaper reported in his obituary, Kumar used to often joke: “Every
time a change happens everyone's salary in the company goes up another
notch.” In fact the company underwent three such changes in three years.
Initially, it was gobbled by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp following its
acquisition of controlling stake in Hughes Electronics, the parent company;
subsequently, News Corp divested its stake in HSS to Flextronics following which
the company got rechristened; and, lastly US-based private equity fund Kohlberg,
Kravis Roberts acquired Flextronics' stake in the company. A lesser mortal
than Kumar would have flinched off under such circumstances.

He truly valued both diversity and competence and did his very best at all
times, and sometimes against great odds, to retain talented people and to take
everyone along in a grand consensus. He will be missed sorely by all who were
lucky to interact with him and will be mourned silently by those for whom he was
a comforter of last resort, and a beacon of affection and respect. Dataquest is
deeply honored to bestow on Arun Kumar posthumously the Lifetime Achievement
Award for 2006. As believed in Karma, the body might wither but the soul is
eternal.

Rajneesh De

rajneeshd@cybermedia.co.in