FC Kohli, the founding CEO of IT services giant Tata Consultancy Services and who is referred to as the “father of India's IT industry”, died at 96 on Thursday
- 'Father of India's IT industry,' Kohli led TCS for 3 decades — Kohli was the first CEO at Asia's biggest IT services firm
BloombergArijit Ghosh
Context & Ripple Effects
FC Kohli built the company whose current upheaval dominates today's coverage: as TCS' founding CEO he ran Asia's biggest IT services firm for three decades, creating the people-heavy offshore delivery model that grew into India's $280B+ IT sector. His death at 96 lands just months after TCS announced plans to cut about 12,000 jobs by March 2026 — a move experts framed as the start of an AI-fueled wave that could eliminate roughly 500K jobs across the sector within three years.
First-order effects
The obituary turns attention back to TCS' origins just as the company dismantles parts of the labor-scale model Kohli created — its 19,755-job quarterly reduction and new AI-operations unit under Amit Kapur now read against the founder's legacy.
Second-order effects
Rival Indian IT firms watching TCS' restructuring inherit the same dilemma Kohli's playbook never faced: whether to defend headcount-based revenue or follow TCS into AI-based operations, where pricing decouples from billable people.
Third-order effects
If the AI-fueled cut projections hold, the industry Kohli founded shifts structurally from selling engineer-hours to selling automated delivery — a transition whose pace will define India's IT employment and export economics for the next decade.
The trend: India's IT services sector is moving from the labor-scale offshore model FC Kohli pioneered toward AI-led delivery, with TCS' job cuts marking the pivot point.
A true visionary and the father of the Indian software industry - Shri FC Kohli will always be remembered for his pioneering contributions to the sector and remarkable leadership at NASSCOM. Our condolences to his family 🙏🏻 https://twitter.com/...
“I am deeply saddened by the news that Mr. FC Kohli passed away this afternoon. 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. - N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons https…
I have had the honor & privilege of working with & learning from Mr. Kohli from the day he hired me as a trainee in TCS. Despite his momentous achievements, his simplicity and thoughtfulness is a lesson for us all... I will miss him dearly. " N Chandrasekaran On #FCKohli https://…
Kohli's 1975 speech: ""Many years ago, there was an industrial revolution; we missed it for reasons beyond our control. Today there is a new revolution, a revolution in information technology. If we miss this opportunity, those who follow us will not forgive us for our tardiness"…
Business leaders remember FC Kohli, @Infosys_nmurthy says, “Mr. F C Kohli laid the foundation for a strong TCS. I had the privilege of working with him on the NASSCOM Executive Council during the early nineties. I pray that his soul rests in peace.” https://twitter.com/...
Shri FC Kohli Ji will be remembered for his pioneering contributions to the world of IT. He was at the forefront of institutionalising a culture of innovation and excellence in the tech industry. Pained by his demise. Condolences to his family and many admirers.
Azim Premji, Founder Chairman, Wipro remembers FC Kohli. “Mr. Kohli was the true pioneer of Indian IT. We have all followed in his footsteps. His contribution to the IT industry and thus to India is immeasurable.” https://twitter.com/...
We mourn the passing of Padma Bhushan Shri FC Kohli, the Father of Indian IT Industry, and the first CEO of TCS. To read the full statement, click here: https://www.tcs.com/... https://twitter.com/...