Dell vs Wipro: Founders, CEOs and History
Dell was founded in 1984 by Michael S. Dell and is led by Michael S. Dell. Wipro was founded in 1945 by Mohamed Hasham Premji and is led by Srini Pallia.
Company facts
Founders
Dell
Michael S. Dell
Dell Technologies possesses one of the most famous, foundational founding stories in the history of the personal computer revolution, rooted in an aggressive, direct-to-consumer arbitrage strategy executed entirely from a college dorm room.
Wipro
Mohamed Hasham Premji
Mohamed Hasham Premji incorporated Western India Vegetable Products Limited in Amalner, Maharashtra in 1945 to produce vegetable oil.
CEOs and their tenures
Dell
- Michael S. Dell1984–present
Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer
Michael Dell's bold, aggressive strategic maneuvers transformed the company from a successful consumer PC manufacturer into a global leader in complex enterprise data center infrastructure and advanced cloud computing.
Source - Kevin Rollins2004–2007
President and Chief Executive Officer
As CEO from 2004 to 2007, he oversaw a period of severe stagnation, losing the company's #1 PC market share position to HP, forcing Michael Dell to return and retake control.
Source - Jeff Clarke2017–present
Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer
As Vice Chairman and Co-COO, he is the primary operational architect of Dell's Infrastructure Solutions Group, transforming the company from a PC maker into a massive enterprise IT vendor.
Source - David Kennedy2025–present
Chief Financial Officer
As Chief Legal Officer, he navigated the highly contentious 2013 leveraged buyout that took the company private, and the equally complex 2018 transaction that returned it to the public markets.
Source
Wipro
- Rishad Premji2019–present
Executive Chairman
As Executive Chairman, he enforced a strict return-to-office mandate and publicly cracked down on employee moonlighting, prioritizing utilization rates over aggressive headcount growth.
Source - Thierry Delaporte2020–2024
CEO and Managing Director
He decentralized Wipro's operating model into four massive strategic market units, though he struggled to match the organic growth rates of rivals like TCS and Infosys before stepping down.
Source - Srini Pallia2024–present
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
Leads Wipro's push for large deals, consulting-led selling, and AI-enabled delivery.
Source
Timeline: Dell and Wipro side by side
1945Wipro
Incorporated as Western India Vegetable Products
Mohamed Hasham Premji sets up a vegetable oil business in Amalner, Maharashtra.
1966Wipro
Azim Premji takes over
After his father's death, 21-year-old Azim Premji leaves Stanford to run the company.
1984Dell
PC's Limited Founded
Michael Dell starts PC's Limited from his University of Texas dorm room using a direct-sales PC model.
1988Dell
Dell Goes Public
Dell Computer Corporation completes its initial public offering and scales internationally.
2000Wipro
NYSE listing
Wipro lists American Depositary Shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker WIT.
2001Dell
Dell Becomes Largest PC Maker
Dell becomes the world's largest PC maker by market share, validating the direct model at global scale.
2007Dell
Michael Dell Returns as CEO
Michael Dell returned as chief executive in January 2007, replacing Kevin Rollins.
2007Wipro
Acquired Infocrossing
Wipro Limited acquired Infocrossing for $600 million.
2013Dell
Dell Goes Private
Michael Dell and Silver Lake take Dell private in a leveraged buyout to reposition the company away from public-market pressure.
2013Wipro
Non-IT businesses demerged
Consumer care, lighting, and infrastructure engineering businesses move to the unlisted Wipro Enterprises.
2016Dell
EMC Acquired
Dell completes the EMC acquisition, creating Dell Technologies and expanding into enterprise storage, infrastructure, and VMware-linked assets.
2018Dell
Dell Returns to Public Markets
Dell Technologies returns to public-market trading through a complex transaction involving its VMware tracking stock.
2019Wipro
Rishad Premji becomes Executive Chairman
Azim Premji retires from the executive role and his son Rishad Premji takes over as chairman.
2021Dell
VMware Spin-Off
Dell completes the VMware spin-off, simplifying the corporate structure and reducing debt.
2021Wipro
Capco acquisition completed
Wipro completes its $1.45 billion acquisition of financial services consultancy Capco.
2022Wipro
Acquired Rizing
Wipro Limited acquired Rizing for $540 million.
2024Wipro
Srini Pallia named CEO
Srini Pallia succeeds Thierry Delaporte as CEO and Managing Director in April 2024.
2025Dell
PC Brands Simplified
Dell introduces simplified Dell, Dell Pro and Dell Pro Max PC brand tiers at CES 2025.
2026Dell
Record $113.5B Fiscal Year
Dell reports record fiscal 2026 revenue of $113.5B, $64.1B of AI server orders and a $43B AI backlog.
2026Dell
$95B AI Server Backlog
Q2 fiscal 2027 revenue rises 58% to $47.0B; AI orders hit $60.9B and backlog reaches $95B; full-year guidance raised to about $192B.
2026Wipro
Rs 150 billion buyback approved
Alongside FY2026 results in April 2026, the board approves a Rs 150 billion share buyback.
Acquisitions
Dell
- EMC Corporation2016$67B
- Quest Software2012$2.4B
- Perot Systems2009$3.9B
- Alienware2006Undisclosed
Wipro
- Harman Digital Transformation Solutions2025$375M
- Rizing2022$540M
- Capco2021$1.4B
- Appirio2016$500M
- Infocrossing2007$600M
Questions about Dell vs Wipro
Who is the CEO of Dell Technologies Inc. and Wipro Limited?
Dell Technologies Inc. is led by Michael S. Dell and Wipro Limited is led by Srini Pallia. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Dell Technologies Inc. founded vs Wipro Limited?
Wipro Limited was founded in 1945 — 39 years before Dell Technologies Inc., which was founded in 1984. Wipro Limited's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Dell Technologies Inc..
How many employees does Dell Technologies Inc. have compared to Wipro Limited?
Dell Technologies Inc. employs approximately 97,000 people, while Wipro Limited employs approximately 228,000. Wipro Limited has the larger workforce at 228,000 employees, compared to Dell Technologies Inc.'s 97,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Dell Technologies Inc. and Wipro Limited headquartered?
Dell Technologies Inc. is headquartered in United States and Wipro Limited is headquartered in India. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Dell Technologies Inc. and Wipro Limited?
Dell Technologies Inc. was founded by Michael S. Dell. Wipro Limited was founded by Mohamed Hasham Premji.
Which company has a longer operating history — Dell Technologies Inc. or Wipro Limited?
Wipro Limited has been operating for approximately 81 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Dell Technologies Inc. has been in operation for around 42 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Dell vs Wipro overview