TCS vs Warner Bros. Discovery: Founders, CEOs and History
TCS was founded in 1968 by J.R.D. Tata, F.C. Kohli and is led by K Krithivasan. Warner Bros. Discovery was founded in 2022 by Harry Warner, John Hendricks and is led by David Zaslav.
Company facts
TCS
- Founded
- 1968
- Headquarters
- Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
- Current CEO
- K Krithivasan
- Employees
- 593,798
Warner Bros. Discovery
- Founded
- 2022
- Headquarters
- New York, New York
- Current CEO
- David Zaslav
- Employees
- 35,500
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.
Warner Bros. Discovery
Harry Warner
Harry Warner was the eldest of the four Warner brothers who incorporated Warner Bros. Pictures in 1923 and served as its president. The studio released The Jazz Singer in 1927, one of the first feature films with synchronized dialogue. Warner Bros.
John Hendricks
John Hendricks launched the Discovery Channel in 1985 and built Discovery Communications, the predecessor of Discovery, Inc., which merged with WarnerMedia in 2022 to form Warner Bros. Discovery. He founded the Discovery business, not WBD itself.
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
Warner Bros. Discovery
- David Zaslav2022–present
President and CEO
Led the 2022 merger, the post-merger cost cuts and debt paydown, the 2025 separation plan, and the sale process that produced the Paramount Skydance agreement.
Source - Gunnar Wiedenfels2022–present
Chief Financial Officer
As CFO, he acts as CEO David Zaslav's primary hatchet man, enforcing brutal, multi-billion dollar cost-cutting measures to pay down the massive $40 billion debt load from the WarnerMedia merger.
Source
Timeline: TCS and Warner Bros. Discovery side by side
1923Warner Bros. Discovery
Warner Bros. Pictures Founded
Harry, Albert, Sam and Jack Warner incorporate Warner Bros. Pictures.
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.
1985Warner Bros. Discovery
Discovery Channel Launches
John Hendricks launches the Discovery Channel, the start of the Discovery business.
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.
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.
2018Warner Bros. Discovery
Acquired Scripps Networks Interactive
Warner Bros. Discovery acquired Scripps Networks Interactive for $14.6 billion.
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.
2022Warner Bros. Discovery
Warner Bros. Discovery Formed
AT&T spins off WarnerMedia and combines it with Discovery, Inc.; the new company lists on Nasdaq as WBD.
2023TCS
K. Krithivasan becomes CEO
K. Krithivasan becomes CEO and managing director of TCS, succeeding Rajesh Gopinathan.
2025Warner Bros. Discovery
Netflix Wins Sale Process
After putting itself up for sale in October 2025, WBD agrees in December to sell its studios and streaming business to Netflix.
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.
2026Warner Bros. Discovery
Paramount Skydance Merger Agreement
On February 27, 2026, WBD signs a merger agreement with Paramount Skydance at $31 per share in cash; the Netflix agreement is terminated.
2026Warner Bros. Discovery
Stockholders Approve Merger
WBD stockholders approve the Paramount Skydance transaction on April 23, 2026.
2026Warner Bros. Discovery
Closing Date Set
After a court approves a settlement with state attorneys general, the companies announce an anticipated closing date of October 6, 2026.
Acquisitions
TCS
- W12 Studios2018Undisclosed
- Citigroup Global Services2008$505M
- CMC Limited2001Undisclosed
Warner Bros. Discovery
- WarnerMedia2022$43B
- Scripps Networks Interactive2018$14.6B
Questions about TCS vs Warner Bros. Discovery
Who is the CEO of Tata Consultancy Services Limited and Warner Bros. Discovery?
Tata Consultancy Services Limited is led by K Krithivasan and Warner Bros. Discovery is led by David Zaslav. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Tata Consultancy Services Limited founded vs Warner Bros. Discovery?
Tata Consultancy Services Limited was founded in 1968 — 54 years before Warner Bros. Discovery, which was founded in 2022. Tata Consultancy Services Limited's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Warner Bros. Discovery.
How many employees does Tata Consultancy Services Limited have compared to Warner Bros. Discovery?
Tata Consultancy Services Limited employs approximately 593,798 people, while Warner Bros. Discovery employs approximately 35,500. Tata Consultancy Services Limited has the larger workforce at 593,798 employees, compared to Warner Bros. Discovery's 35,500. 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 Warner Bros. Discovery headquartered?
Tata Consultancy Services Limited is headquartered in India and Warner Bros. Discovery 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 Warner Bros. Discovery?
Tata Consultancy Services Limited was founded by J.R.D. Tata, F.C. Kohli. Warner Bros. Discovery was founded by Harry Warner, John Hendricks.
Which company has a longer operating history — Tata Consultancy Services Limited or Warner Bros. Discovery?
Tata Consultancy Services Limited has been operating for approximately 58 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Warner Bros. Discovery has been in operation for around 4 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 Warner Bros. Discovery overview