Infosys vs Target: Founders, CEOs and History
Infosys was founded in 1981 by N. R. Narayana Murthy, Nandan Nilekani, S. Gopalakrishnan and is led by Salil Parekh. Target was founded in 1902 by George Dayton and is led by Michael Fiddelke.
Company facts
Founders
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.
Target
George Dayton
George Draper Dayton became a partner in Goodfellow's Dry Goods Company, one of the largest department stores in Minneapolis, in 1902, and became sole owner and president within a year, renaming it the Dayton Dry Goods Company.
CEOs and their tenures
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
Target
- Robert J. Ulrich1994–2008
Chairman and CEO
Under Ulrich Target grew into the second-largest US discount retailer, built its design-partnership model with designers such as Michael Graves, and added the Super Target format. He retired as chief executive in 2008 and was succeeded by Gregg Steinhafel.
Source - Gregg Steinhafel2008–2014
Chairman, President and CEO
Steinhafel resigned in May 2014 after the data breach and the poor results of Target Canada, which the company closed in 2015 after losses. Brian Cornell succeeded him later in 2014.
Source - Brian Cornell2014–2026
Former Chairman and CEO
Cornell's tenure ended amid a stock and sales slump, with revenue declining for three consecutive fiscal years (from $107.412 billion in FY2023 to $104.780 billion in FY2025) even as the omnichannel infrastructure he built began paying off in the following qua…
Source - Michael Fiddelke2026–present
Chief Executive Officer
Fiddelke inherited a company coming off three straight years of revenue decline. His first two quarters as CEO delivered growth: Q1 FY2026 net sales rose 6.7% and Q2 FY2026 net sales rose 5.3% to $26.5 billion, with comparable traffic up 3.6%.
Source
Timeline: Infosys and Target side by side
1902Target
Dayton Company is founded
George Dayton becomes a partner in Goodfellow's Dry Goods Company in Minneapolis in 1902, then sole owner in 1903, renaming it Dayton Dry Goods Company -- the business that eventually becomes Target Corporation.
1962Target
First Target store opens
The first Target discount store opens in Roseville, Minnesota.
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.
2000Target
Company becomes Target Corporation
Dayton Hudson changes its name to Target Corporation as the discount chain becomes the center of the company.
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.
2013Target
Target Data Breach
Target discloses a data breach affecting more than 40 million customer payment cards during the holiday shopping season, becoming one of the most-cited cybersecurity failures in US retail history.
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.
2014Target
Dermstore Acquired
Target acquires online beauty retailer Dermstore to expand its e-commerce beauty business; it sells the unit to THG for $350 million in 2021.
2015Target
Target Exits Canada
Target announced in January 2015 that it would close all of its Canadian stores, ending an expansion that began in 2013.
2017Target
Target acquires Shipt and Grand Junction
Target acquires same-day delivery platform Shipt for about $550 million and transportation-technology startup Grand Junction, accelerating omnichannel fulfillment.
2018Infosys
Salil Parekh Becomes CEO
Salil Parekh became CEO and began a period focused on large deals, cloud, AI, and delivery discipline.
2020Target
Stores become fulfillment hubs
Target's store-based fulfillment model becomes central to digital growth during the pandemic period.
2024Infosys
Acquired In-tech
Infosys Limited acquired In-tech for $485 million.
2025Target
Michael Fiddelke named next CEO
Target announces that Michael Fiddelke will succeed Brian Cornell as CEO effective February 1, 2026, after 22 years rising through the company including as CFO and COO.
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.
2026Target
FY2025 revenue is reported
Target reports FY2025 revenue of $104.780B and net income of $3.705B, the third consecutive year of revenue decline.
2026Target
Q1 FY2026 sales rebound
Target reports Q1 FY2026 net sales growth of 6.7% and comparable sales growth of 5.6% under new CEO Michael Fiddelke.
2026Target
Q2 FY2026 growth and raised outlook
Target reports Q2 FY2026 net sales of $26.5B (+5.3%), comparable sales growth of 3.8% and raises full-year guidance to about 5% sales growth.
Acquisitions
Infosys
- MRE Consulting2025$36M
- InSemi Technology Services2024$33.7M
- In-tech2024$485M
- BASE life science2022Undisclosed
- Oddity2022Undisclosed
- Simplus2020$250M
Questions about Infosys vs Target
Who is the CEO of Infosys Limited and Target Corporation?
Infosys Limited is led by Salil Parekh and Target Corporation is led by Michael Fiddelke. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Infosys Limited founded vs Target Corporation?
Target Corporation was founded in 1902 — 79 years before Infosys Limited, which was founded in 1981. Target Corporation'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 Infosys Limited have compared to Target Corporation?
Infosys Limited employs approximately 328,594 people, while Target Corporation employs approximately 415,000. Target Corporation has the larger workforce at 415,000 employees, compared to Infosys Limited's 328,594. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Infosys Limited and Target Corporation headquartered?
Infosys Limited is headquartered in India and Target Corporation is headquartered in United States. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Infosys Limited and Target Corporation?
Infosys Limited was founded by N. R. Narayana Murthy, Nandan Nilekani, S. Gopalakrishnan, S. D. Shibulal, K. Dinesh, N. S. Raghavan, Ashok Arora. Target Corporation was founded by George Dayton.
Which company has a longer operating history — Infosys Limited or Target Corporation?
Target Corporation has been operating for approximately 124 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 Infosys vs Target overview