**HCLTech CEO C Vijayakumar’s Earnings Surge to $10.85 Million**
C Vijayakumar, the CEO of HCLTech, has reported earnings of USD 10.85 million (approximately ₹94.6 crore) for the financial year 2024-25, positioning him among the highest-paid executives in the Indian IT industry. His compensation surpasses that of leaders at larger competitors such as TCS and Infosys. The company’s board has approved a significant increase in his remuneration, raising it by over 71% to USD 18.6 million (around ₹154 crore) for the upcoming financial year, as detailed in the company’s annual report.
Vijayakumar’s compensation for FY25 outstrips that of his counterparts at India’s leading IT firms. TCS CEO K Krithivasan earned ₹26.52 crore, while Infosys CEO Salil Parekh received ₹80.62 crore. Additionally, Vijayakumar’s earnings exceeded those of Wipro CEO Srinivas Pallia, who earned USD 6.2 million (approximately ₹53.64 crore), and Tech Mahindra CEO Mohit Joshi, who earned around ₹53.9 crore.
According to HCLTech’s annual report, Vijayakumar’s total remuneration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, included a base salary of USD 1.96 million and a performance-linked bonus of USD 1.73 million. The majority of his earnings stemmed from long-term incentives, with exercised Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) valued at USD 6.96 million, along with an additional USD 0.20 million in benefits and perquisites. Since taking on the role of CEO in 2016, Vijayakumar has been based in the US and receives his remuneration from HCL America Inc., the company’s wholly-owned US subsidiary.
Under Vijayakumar’s leadership, HCLTech’s market capitalization has surged from ₹1,15,000 crore on March 31, 2016, to ₹4,32,000 crore on March 31, 2025, reflecting a remarkable growth of 3.8 times. In comparison, the market capitalization of the other four leading Indian listed IT services firms has increased by approximately 2.5 times during the same period.
The board’s approval of a revised remuneration package for Vijayakumar, effective April 1, 2025, includes a proposed annual salary of USD 18.6 million, marking a substantial increase from his FY25 earnings. This new structure significantly enhances both fixed and performance-linked components, acknowledging Vijayakumar’s successful and long-standing leadership as CEO and his considerable contributions to the company’s growth and sustained performance.
Despite a 9.7% decline in consolidated net profit to ₹3,843 crore for the June quarter, attributed to higher expenses and the one-time impact of a client bankruptcy, HCLTech has raised its revenue growth outlook for the full fiscal year to 3-5% from the previous estimate of 2-5%, based on positive booking expectations in the coming quarters. HCLTech shares closed 0.98% lower at ₹1,452.95 on the BSE on Friday.
**FAQ**
**What factors contributed to C Vijayakumar’s high earnings?**
C Vijayakumar’s high earnings are attributed to a combination of his base salary, performance-linked bonuses, and significant long-term incentives, including exercised Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). His leadership has also driven substantial growth in HCLTech’s market capitalization.
