Modern Architect ·

S. Chandrasekar

Co-founder, Strategist & Operations Leader, Information Technology Services

Country

India

Continent

Asia

Industry

Information Technology Services

Role

Co-founder, Operations Leader

S. Chandrasekar is a veteran co-founder and operations leader in India's IT services sector, best known for his pivotal role at Hexaware Technologies. His career trajectory exemplifies strategic operations, global delivery model implementation, and effective M&A integration in high-growth technology enterprises.

Biography

S. Chandrasekar, commonly known as Chandra, has been a foundational figure in the Indian IT services landscape. His career began with Hindustan Computers Ltd. (HCL), where he gained early experience in the nascent technology sector. He then joined Mastek, co-founding their US operations and serving as President of Mastek Inc. from 1989 to 1999. During this decade, he was instrumental in establishing Mastek's offshore delivery capabilities and scaling its North American presence. In 1990, Chandrasekar co-founded Hexaware Technologies alongside Atul Nishar and R. Srikrishna. As a founding member and later the Chief Operating Officer, he was central to Hexaware's growth from a startup to a publicly listed, multi-national IT services provider. His responsibilities encompassed global delivery, process excellence, and strategic expansion. He played a critical role in Hexaware's IPO in 1998, which opened doors for significant capital infusion and accelerated growth. During his tenure, Hexaware specialized in niche areas like enterprise solutions (ERP, CRM), business intelligence, and software product engineering. Chandra retired from Hexaware in 2008 following its acquisition by The Baring Asia Private Equity Fund. Post-Hexaware, Chandrasekar continued to leverage his operational acumen as a strategic advisor and board member for several technology companies and startups, focusing on scaling operations, optimizing delivery, and navigating international markets. His career is characterized by an unwavering focus on operational efficiency, client satisfaction, and building robust global delivery frameworks.

Accomplishments

01Co-founded Mastek Inc. (US operations) in 1989, successfully building its North American presence and establishing early offshore delivery models.
02Co-founded Hexaware Technologies in 1990, driving its growth from inception to a public listing on Indian stock exchanges in 1998.
03As COO of Hexaware, implemented global delivery models and process efficiencies that supported revenue growth from $20 million to over $250 million.
04Orchestrated the operational integration of multiple acquisitions at Hexaware, including FocusFrame for testing services (2006) and other smaller firms, enhancing service portfolio and market reach.
05Successfully scaled teams and infrastructure across diverse geographies, including North America, Europe, and Asia, through effective operational leadership and talent management.
06Played a key role in Hexaware's successful transition and stabilization post-acquisition by Baring Asia Private Equity Fund in 2006.

Lessons for Operators

Early establishment of robust offshore delivery capabilities provides a sustainable competitive advantage in IT services, lowering costs and increasing client value.

Strategic M&A is crucial for expanding service offerings and market share, but operational integration planning must precede the deal closure to ensure value realization.

Building a strong, process-driven operations framework is paramount for scalable growth, enabling consistent quality and predictability as a company expands.

Founding teams must possess diverse, complementary skillsets; Chandrasekar's operational rigor complemented the sales and technological expertise of his co-founders.

Navigating public markets requires transparent and efficient operational reporting to instill investor confidence and support valuation.

Client-centric delivery models, emphasizing quality and communication, are vital for maintaining long-term relationships and securing repeat business in a competitive services landscape.

The Operator's Playbook

Key Takeaways

Practical lessons distilled for operators, investors, C-levels, and capital allocators.

Lesson 01

Operational Blueprint for Scaling Services

Chandrasekar's career demonstrates that meticulously designed operational frameworks, encompassing global delivery, project management, and quality assurance, are not just support functions but core strategic assets that enable rapid, sustainable growth in IT services. Operators should prioritize process standardization and automation early.

Lesson 02

M&A Integration as an Operational Core Competency

His experience at Hexaware highlights that successful M&A involves deeply operational considerations beyond financial valuations. The ability to seamlessly integrate acquired teams, technologies, and client portfolios into existing delivery models is critical for synergy realization and sustained growth. Investors should scrutinize operational integration plans.

Lesson 03

The Strategic Value of Global Delivery

Chandrasekar was an early advocate and implementer of offshore delivery models. This strategy drastically improved cost-effectiveness and access to talent, revolutionizing the IT services industry. Enterprise leaders should continuously evaluate and optimize their global talent and delivery footprints for competitive advantage.

Lesson 04

Founding Team Synergy

The success of Hexaware was partly attributable to the complementary strengths of its founders. Chandrasekar's operational expertise balanced the sales and technology focus of his partners. C-levels and fund managers should prioritize balanced leadership teams with diverse functional strengths for venture resilience and growth.

Lesson 05

Adaptability in Market Transitions

He navigated Hexaware through its IPO and later through an acquisition by private equity. These transitions require not only financial prowess but also significant operational adjustments to meet new compliance, reporting, and strategic objectives. Leaders must cultivate organizational flexibility.

Mental Models

Frameworks & Principles

Named frameworks and strategic principles they popularized or embodied.

Global Delivery Model (GDM)

A strategic and operational framework for distributing project tasks across multiple geographic locations (onshore, nearshore, offshore) to leverage cost efficiencies, access diverse talent pools, and ensure 24/7 productivity cycles. Chandrasekar was a pioneer in implementing and refining GDMs for IT services projects.

When to useApplicable for IT services firms, BPOs, and software development companies aiming to optimize costs, enhance scalability, reduce time-to-market, and access specialized skill sets not readily available in a single location. Critical for competitive positioning in global markets.

Operational Due Diligence & Integration Plan (ODDIP)

A structured approach to assess the operational health, capabilities, and scalability of a target company during M&A, followed by a detailed plan for integrating their processes, systems, teams, and culture into the acquirer's operations. Chandrasekar's experience underscores its importance for true value creation post-acquisition.

When to useEssential for any M&A transaction, particularly in service industries where human capital, proprietary processes, and client relationships are key assets. Use it to identify integration risks, define synergy realization pathways, and ensure operational continuity.

Process Excellence (Six Sigma/CMMI)

A management philosophy focused on minimizing errors and maximizing efficiency and predictability in organizational processes to achieve consistent, high-quality outcomes. Chandrasekar leveraged frameworks like CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration) at Hexaware to standardize software development and delivery.

When to useRelevant for any organization seeking to improve service quality, reduce operational costs, enhance customer satisfaction, and achieve predictable project delivery. Particularly valuable for IT service providers where consistent quality and adherence to SLAs are paramount.

Adjacent Minds