Startup Originals Team
C Vijayakumar, CEO and Managing Director of HCLTech, has solidified his position as India’s highest-paid IT chief executive for the second consecutive year, earning a staggering ₹94.6 crore ($10.85 million) in FY2024–25. His remuneration outpaces leaders at Infosys, TCS, Wipro, and Tech Mahindra, and reflects both his leadership impact and the robust performance of HCLTech under his tenure.
Pay Package Breakdown: Salary, Bonuses, and Long-Term Incentives
Vijayakumar’s total compensation for FY25 includes:
- Base Salary: $1.96 million (approx. ₹15.8 crore)
- Variable Bonus: $1.73 million (approx. ₹13.9 crore)
- Long-Term Incentives (RSUs): $6.96 million (approx. ₹56.9 crore)
- Other Benefits: $0.2 million (approx. ₹1.7 crore)
His pay package is over 662 times the median employee compensation at HCLTech and represents a 7.9% increase from the previous year. The bulk of his compensation is linked to restricted stock units, reflecting a strong performance-based incentive structure.
Impressive Company Growth Under Vijayakumar’s Tenure
Since taking over as CEO in October 2016, Vijayakumar has guided HCLTech through rapid expansion:
- Market capitalization soared from ₹1.15 lakh crore in 2016 to ₹4.32 lakh crore in March 2025-an increase of 3.8 times.
- Revenue compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.3%-the highest among top Indian IT peers.
- EBIT CAGR of 8.1% and net income CAGR of 6.9%, both ranking among the industry’s best.
Client metrics have also surged, with the number of $100 million clients rising from 8 to 22 and $50 million clients jumping from 19 to 52 during his leadership.
Salary Race: How Do Other Indian IT CEOs Stack Up?
- Infosys: Salil Parekh – ₹80.6 crore
- Wipro: Srinivas Pallia – ₹53.6 crore
- Tech Mahindra: Mohit Joshi – ₹53.9 crore
- TCS: K Krithivasan – ₹26.5 crore
Compared to his counterparts, Vijayakumar’s package stands out as the most lucrative in the industry and has drawn attention for its scale and strong linkage to the company’s stock performance.
Looking Forward: Even Bigger Package in FY26
The HCLTech board has approved a 71% hike in Vijayakumar’s remuneration for FY26, setting his total pay at $18.6 million (approximately ₹154 crore) for the upcoming financial year-a move that recognizes his ongoing leadership and the company’s sustained trajectory of growth and innovation.
Who is C Vijayakumar?
Born in Tamil Nadu, Vijayakumar holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from PSG College of Technology. He has been with HCL since 1994 and has played instrumental roles in the evolution of HCL’s global operations. He became CEO in October 2016 and Managing Director in July 2021, earning industry accolades including “Best CEO of the Year, 2020,” by Business Today.
Conclusion: Leadership, Rewards, and a New Era in Indian IT
C Vijayakumar’s record-breaking compensation underscores both the growing scale of Indian IT companies on the global stage and the rewards of visionary, long-term leadership. As HCLTech continues its journey under his stewardship, the industry will be watching for what’s next in this IT success story.
