Strife At The Top: These 11 C-Suite Execs From India Were ‘Let Go’ In 2013

If you think Microsoft’s prolonged search for the next CEO is getting a bit nutty, especially with a disgruntled Steve Ballmer waiting on the sidelines to hand over the mantle, you are not far from the truth. But then, that is the actual state of the coveted C-Suite nowadays – volatile is the right word if you want to sum it up. There is no job security at the top and even the best performer for years can get redundant within the span of a few weeks. The issues could be many – right from poor performance to business restructuring to alleged corruption charges. But the biggest factor is relevance, a perfect future-fit that can take companies ahead, according to industry experts. In a difficult economy, companies are compelled to twist and turn to keep track of profitability and their requirements change accordingly. Hence, their leaders have to adapt, shape up or ship out, as the case might be.

India is no exception and business leaders across the country have been frequently ‘released’ by industry giants. Many of them leave with ‘immediate effect’ while others are on garden leave or worse still, waiting for their predecessors to turn up (just like Ballmer). Yet, most of the C-Suite executives are tight-lipped about their departures, at least here in India. We are yet to come across an announcement like the one made by Groupon’s founder and former CEO Andrew Mason. But exit happens all the same – be it discreet or blatant. Here’s a quick look at some of the top-notch C-Suite executives from India who parted ways with their respective companies in 2013, their official exit lines and what happened behind the scene.