Hitachi vs Infosys: Founders, CEOs and History
Hitachi was founded in 1910 by Namihei Odaira and is led by Toshiaki Tokunaga. Infosys was founded in 1981 by N. R. Narayana Murthy, Nandan Nilekani, S. Gopalakrishnan and is led by Salil Parekh.
Company facts
Founders
Hitachi
Namihei Odaira
Hitachi possesses a historic, foundational founding story, rooted in the industrialization of early 20th-century Japan and driven by a nationalist obsession with technological independence.
Infosys
N. R. Narayana Murthy
Infosys possesses arguably the most ethical, well-known founding story in modern Indian corporate history, defining the 'middle-class' technology miracle of Bangalore and famously prioritizing rigorous corporate governance in a heavily corrupt regulatory era.
Nandan Nilekani
Nandan Nilekani served as Infosys CEO from 2002 to 2007, a period when the company expanded into global markets and deepened its position with Fortune 500 clients.
S. Gopalakrishnan
S. Gopalakrishnan co-founded Infosys in 1981 and served as CEO from 2007 to 2011, handling the company through the global financial crisis while maintaining profitability and client trust.
S. D. Shibulal
S. D. Shibulal co-founded Infosys in 1981 and served as CEO from 2011 to 2014. His tenure came during a transitional period when traditional outsourcing growth was slowing and the market was beginning to shift toward digital transformation, cloud, and automati…
K. Dinesh
K. Dinesh co-founded Infosys in 1981 and spent his career building the company's internal operating systems, quality processes, human resources practices, training programs, and organizational development.
N. S. Raghavan
N. S. Raghavan co-founded Infosys and served as a stabilizing administrative force during the company's fragile early years.
Ashok Arora
Ashok Arora co-founded Infosys in 1981 and contributed to the company's earliest technical work and client delivery. Unlike the other six founders, Arora left the company relatively early and sold his stake before Infosys became a public-market success.
CEOs and their tenures
Hitachi
- Toshiaki Higashihara2016–2022
Former President and Chief Executive Officer
Shifted Hitachi from a sprawling conglomerate toward infrastructure and digital businesses.
Source - Keiji Kojima2022–2025
Executive Chairman (CEO 2022-2025)
Finished much of the portfolio cleanup and handed over a more focused group to Tokunaga.
Source - Toshiaki Tokunaga2025–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
Brings an energy and rail background to the top job as Hitachi Energy and Hitachi Rail drive more of the group's growth.
Source
Infosys
- S. D. Shibulal2011–2014
Co-founder and Former CEO
As one of the original founders serving as CEO, his tenure saw Infosys struggle with lagging growth compared to TCS, prompting the return of N.R. Narayana Murthy to stabilize operations.
Source - Vishal Sikka2014–2017
Former CEO
He resigned in August 2017 after public criticism from founder N. R. Narayana Murthy over governance, executive pay, and the Panaya acquisition.
Source - Nandan Nilekani2017–present
Co-founder and Non-Executive Chairman
His return restored investor confidence and ended the founder-board conflict. He earlier served as CEO from 2002 to 2007 and led India's Aadhaar digital ID programme.
Source - Salil Parekh2018–present
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
Under Parekh revenue rose from about $11.8 billion in FY2019 to $20.16 billion in FY2026 while operating margins stayed near 20%-21%. His board reappointed him for a second five-year term starting April 2022.
Source - Jayesh Sanghrajka2023–present
Chief Financial Officer
He has kept operating margins within the 20%-22% guidance band during a slow-growth period.
Source
Timeline: Hitachi and Infosys side by side
1910Hitachi
Founding and First Induction Motor
Namihei Odaira establishes the machinery repair shop that becomes Hitachi, and develops Japan's first 5-horsepower induction motor, establishing the foundation for the company's dominance in electrical engineering.
1932Hitachi
Expansion into Railway Technology
Hitachi begins manufacturing electric locomotives and rail signaling systems, establishing a deep, institutionalized relationship with the Japanese national railway network that would evolve into the modern Hitachi Rail division.
1959Hitachi
Entry into Computing and Electronics
Hitachi develops its first electronic computer, the HITAC, marking the company's strategic entry into the information technology sector and laying the groundwork for its future digital systems business.
1981Infosys
Infosys Founded
Seven engineers founded Infosys in Pune before relocating and scaling the company in Bengaluru.
1993Infosys
Indian Public Listing
Infosys listed in India and began building a transparent governance reputation.
1999Infosys
NASDAQ Listing
Infosys became the first Indian company listed on NASDAQ, boosting global investor credibility.
2000Infosys
Finacle Scales
Infosys expanded its banking software platform, creating product-led switching costs inside banks.
2011Infosys
S. D. Shibulal becomes CEO
S. D. Shibulal became CEO of Infosys Limited in 2011. He was the last founder to serve as CEO before the board appointed an outside leader.
2014Infosys
Vishal Sikka becomes CEO
Vishal Sikka became CEO of Infosys Limited in 2014. He resigned in August 2017 after public criticism from founder N.
2016Hitachi
Toshiaki Higashihara becomes CEO
Toshiaki Higashihara became CEO of Hitachi in 2016. Shifted Hitachi from a sprawling conglomerate toward infrastructure and digital businesses.
2018Infosys
Salil Parekh Becomes CEO
Salil Parekh became CEO and began a period focused on large deals, cloud, AI, and delivery discipline.
2020Hitachi
Acquisition of ABB's Power Grids Business
Hitachi executes the $11 billion acquisition of ABB's Power Grids business, renaming it Hitachi Energy and instantly establishing the company as the global leader in HVDC transmission and grid infrastructure.
2021Hitachi
Acquisition of GlobalLogic
The company acquires the global digital engineering firm GlobalLogic for $9.6 billion, instantly establishing Hitachi as a top-tier provider of advanced software and product design services for the automotive and telecommunications sectors.
2022Hitachi
Hitachi Construction Machinery Stake Sale
Hitachi sold a controlling stake in Hitachi Construction Machinery to Itochu and Japan Industrial Partners, part of its exit from cyclical listed subsidiaries.
2024Hitachi
Acquired Thales Ground Transportation Systems
Hitachi acquired Thales Ground Transportation Systems. Hitachi Rail completed its ~$1.88 billion (EUR 1.66 billion) acquisition of Thales's Ground Transportation Systems business, its rail signalling division, expanding Hitachi Rail to 51 countries and shiftin…
2024Infosys
Acquired In-tech
Infosys Limited acquired In-tech for $485 million.
2025Hitachi
Toshiaki Tokunaga Becomes CEO
Toshiaki Tokunaga became President and CEO on April 1, 2025, succeeding Keiji Kojima, who became Executive Chairman.
2026Hitachi
Record Results and Home Appliance Sale
Hitachi reported record FY2025 profit in April 2026 and agreed to sell 80.1% of its home appliance business to Nojima for about $737 million (¥110 billion).
2026Infosys
Revenue Crosses $20B
Infosys reported $20.158 billion in FY2026 revenue, up 3.1% in constant currency, with $14.9 billion in large-deal wins.
2026Infosys
FY2027 Guidance Cut
In July 2026 Infosys reported Q1 FY2027 revenue of $5.082 billion and lowered full-year growth guidance to 1.5%-3.0% in constant currency.
Acquisitions
Hitachi
- Thales Ground Transportation Systems2024Undisclosed
- GlobalLogic2021Undisclosed
- ABB Power Grids2020Undisclosed
Infosys
- MRE Consulting2025$36M
- InSemi Technology Services2024$33.7M
- In-tech2024$485M
- BASE life science2022Undisclosed
- Oddity2022Undisclosed
- Simplus2020$250M
Questions about Hitachi vs Infosys
Who is the CEO of Hitachi, Ltd. and Infosys Limited?
Hitachi, Ltd. is led by Toshiaki Tokunaga and Infosys Limited is led by Salil Parekh. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Hitachi, Ltd. founded vs Infosys Limited?
Hitachi, Ltd. was founded in 1910 — 71 years before Infosys Limited, which was founded in 1981. Hitachi, Ltd.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Infosys Limited.
How many employees does Hitachi, Ltd. have compared to Infosys Limited?
Hitachi, Ltd. employs approximately 287,901 people, while Infosys Limited employs approximately 328,594. Infosys Limited has the larger workforce at 328,594 employees, compared to Hitachi, Ltd.'s 287,901. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Hitachi, Ltd. and Infosys Limited headquartered?
Hitachi, Ltd. is headquartered in Japan and Infosys Limited is headquartered in India. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Hitachi, Ltd. and Infosys Limited?
Hitachi, Ltd. was founded by Namihei Odaira. Infosys Limited was founded by N. R. Narayana Murthy, Nandan Nilekani, S. Gopalakrishnan, S. D. Shibulal, K. Dinesh, N. S. Raghavan, Ashok Arora.
Which company has a longer operating history — Hitachi, Ltd. or Infosys Limited?
Hitachi, Ltd. has been operating for approximately 116 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Infosys Limited has been in operation for around 45 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 Hitachi vs Infosys overview