TCS vs Visa: Founders, CEOs and History
TCS was founded in 1968 by J.R.D. Tata, F.C. Kohli and is led by K Krithivasan. Visa was founded in 1958 by Dee Hock and is led by Ryan McInerney.
Company facts
Founders
TCS
J.R.D. Tata
J.R.D. Tata was chairman of Tata Sons from 1938 to 1991. Under his leadership the group set up Tata Computer Centre in 1968, which became Tata Consultancy Services, initially to provide data-processing and management-consultancy services to Tata companies.
F.C. Kohli
Faqir Chand Kohli (1924-2020) moved from Tata Electric Companies to lead TCS in 1969 and served as its first general manager and later CEO until 1996.
Visa
Dee Hock
Dee Hock (1929-2022) was the founding CEO of National BankAmericard Inc., the bank-owned company that took over the BankAmericard licensing system from Bank of America in 1970 and adopted the Visa name in 1976.
CEOs and their tenures
TCS
- F. C. Kohli1969–1996
Co-founder and First CEO
By the time Kohli stepped down from executive responsibility in 1996, TCS-trained programmers numbered in the hundreds of thousands and had helped launch India's broader IT-export industry, earning Kohli the title 'Father of the Indian IT Industry' and India's…
Source - N. Chandrasekaran2009–2017
CEO
He became chairman of Tata Sons in February 2017 and also chairs TCS's board and Air India.
Source - Rajesh Gopinathan2017–2023
CEO and Managing Director
Under Gopinathan, TCS shares nearly tripled, revenue almost doubled, and profit rose about 60% over his six-year tenure -- one of the strongest CEO track records in Indian corporate history.
Source - K. Krithivasan2023–present
CEO and Managing Director
Under Krithivasan, TCS crossed $30 billion in annual revenue in FY2026 and grew its annualized AI revenue run rate to $2.6 billion by Q1 FY2027, even as dollar revenue was roughly flat amid weak discretionary IT spending.
Source
Visa
- Alfred F. Kelly Jr.2016–2023
Chief Executive Officer
Serving as CEO from 2016 to 2023, he heavily modernized the massive legacy network, aggressively integrating fintechs and preparing the network to process highly complex cryptocurrency transactions.
Source - Ryan McInerney2023–present
Chief Executive Officer
McInerney joined Visa in 2013 as president after senior roles at JPMorgan Chase and became chief executive on February 1, 2023, succeeding Alfred F. Kelly Jr.
Source
Timeline: TCS and Visa side by side
1958Visa
BankAmericard launched
Bank of America launched BankAmericard, the direct predecessor to Visa.
1968TCS
TCS is founded
Tata Consultancy Services begins inside the Tata Group.
1969TCS
F.C. Kohli Joins as First CEO
F.C. Kohli is brought in on deputation to lead TCS, then a 10-consultant operation, and begins building an industrial, assembly-line approach to software delivery.
1976Visa
Visa name adopted
The network adopted the Visa name to support international acceptance and brand consistency.
2001TCS
CMC Limited Stake Acquired
TCS acquires a majority stake in CMC Limited from the Government of India, adding systems-integration and public-sector technology capability.
2001TCS
TCS Crosses $1 Billion in Revenue
TCS becomes the first Indian IT services company to cross $1 billion in annual revenue, cementing its position as an industry leader.
2004TCS
TCS lists publicly
TCS completes its IPO and becomes one of India's most important listed technology companies.
2008Visa
Visa IPO
Visa became a public company, changing the economics from a bank association structure to a shareholder-owned company.
2009TCS
TCS crosses major global scale thresholds
TCS expands globally across industries and delivery centers under new then-CEO N. Chandrasekaran.
2013TCS
N. Chandrasekaran Becomes CEO
Chandrasekaran becomes CEO, leading TCS through a period of rapid international expansion before his 2017 elevation to Tata Sons chairman.
2016Visa
Alfred F. Kelly Jr. becomes CEO
Alfred F. Kelly Jr. became CEO of Visa in 2016. Chief executive of Visa from December 2016 to January 2023, when Ryan McInerney succeeded him; Kelly then served as executive chairman.
2020TCS
F.C. Kohli Passes Away
F.C. Kohli, TCS co-founder and first CEO, dies at age 96, having lived to see the company he helped build become one of the worlds largest IT services firms.
2020Visa
Acquired Plaid (abandoned)
Visa acquired Plaid (abandoned) for $5.3 billion. Visa agreed in January 2020 to buy US data-connectivity fintech Plaid for USD 5.3 billion.
2022Visa
Tink acquisition
Visa completed its purchase of Stockholm-based open banking platform Tink in March 2022.
2023TCS
K. Krithivasan becomes CEO
K. Krithivasan becomes CEO and managing director of TCS, succeeding Rajesh Gopinathan.
2023Visa
Ryan McInerney becomes CEO
Ryan McInerney became Visa's CEO after serving as president.
2025Visa
Revenue reaches $40.0B
Visa reported $40.0 billion in fiscal 2025 net revenue.
2026TCS
FY2026 revenue is reported
TCS reports FY2026 revenue of $30.017B and net margin of 19.8%.
2026TCS
Q1 FY2027 AI run-rate grows
TCS reports Q1 FY2027 revenue of $7.624B and annualized AI revenue of $2.6B.
2026TCS
Tata Sons chairman succession opens
On August 12, 2026, N. Chandrasekaran said he would not seek another term as Tata Sons chairman after February 2027; TCS shares fell about 4% on the news.
Acquisitions
TCS
- W12 Studios2018Undisclosed
- Citigroup Global Services2008$505M
- CMC Limited2001Undisclosed
Questions about TCS vs Visa
Who is the CEO of Tata Consultancy Services Limited and Visa Inc.?
Tata Consultancy Services Limited is led by K Krithivasan and Visa Inc. is led by Ryan McInerney. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Tata Consultancy Services Limited founded vs Visa Inc.?
Visa Inc. was founded in 1958 — 10 years before Tata Consultancy Services Limited, which was founded in 1968. Visa Inc.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Tata Consultancy Services Limited.
How many employees does Tata Consultancy Services Limited have compared to Visa Inc.?
Tata Consultancy Services Limited employs approximately 593,798 people, while Visa Inc. employs approximately 34,100. Tata Consultancy Services Limited has the larger workforce at 593,798 employees, compared to Visa Inc.'s 34,100. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Tata Consultancy Services Limited and Visa Inc. headquartered?
Tata Consultancy Services Limited is headquartered in India and Visa Inc. is headquartered in United States. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Tata Consultancy Services Limited and Visa Inc.?
Tata Consultancy Services Limited was founded by J.R.D. Tata, F.C. Kohli. Visa Inc. was founded by Dee Hock.
Which company has a longer operating history — Tata Consultancy Services Limited or Visa Inc.?
Visa Inc. has been operating for approximately 68 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Tata Consultancy Services Limited has been in operation for around 58 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 TCS vs Visa overview