Vishal Sikka (born 1 May 1967) is an American entrepreneur known for leadership roles in enterprise technology and artificial intelligence. As of the current date, he is the founder and CEO of Vianai, a San Francisco-based startup providing software services in artificial intelligence and machine learning. He previously served as chief technology officer of SAP AG and as CEO and managing director of Infosys, and he holds board positions at Oracle and the BMW Group, while also advising the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI.
Sikka's career spans founding startups, leading product innovation at major software firms, and establishing a new venture focused on making AI accessible to enterprises. His work has centered on integrating intelligent systems into business operations.
Early life and education
Sikka was born on 1 May 1967 in Shajapur, Madhya Pradesh, India, to Punjabi parents - an officer in the Indian Railways and a teacher. His family moved to Vadodara in Gujarat when he was six, where he attended Kendriya Vidyalaya, Rajkot and later Rosary High School in Vadodara.
He began a bachelor's degree in computer engineering at Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda but discontinued it to attend Syracuse University in New York, earning a B.S. in computer science. Sikka completed his Ph.D. in 1996 at Stanford University; his dissertation, titled 'Integrating Specialized Procedures into Proof Systems,' was supervised by Michael Genesereth. Notably, Artificial intelligence pioneers Marvin Minsky and John McCarthy - both considered fathers of AI - supported his academic path, with Minsky writing a recommendation letter for his Stanford admission and McCarthy serving as one of his professors.
Early career and startups
After his doctorate, Sikka worked briefly at Xerox's research labs, an experience that exposed him to PARC-era innovations. He then founded iBrain, a business intelligence company that competed with Business Objects; the startup was acquired by PatternRX, Inc. His second venture, Bodha.com, developed technology for non-invasive, service-based integration of enterprise applications, and was acquired by Peregrine Systems, where Sikka became area vice-president.
SAP
Sikka joined SAP in 2002 to lead the advanced technology group, focusing on strategic innovative projects. He ascended to senior vice president of architecture and chief software architect, directing the roadmap for SAP's products and infrastructure. In April 2007, he was appointed SAP's first-ever CTO, reporting to CEO Henning Kagermann, to oversee broad changes including mid-market focus, on-demand products, and the NetWeaver and service-oriented architecture strategy.
Following Léo Apotheker's resignation in 2010, Sikka joined a reconstituted executive board alongside co-CEOs Bill McDermott and Jim Hagemann Snabe. He became a prominent advocate for SAP HANA, the in-memory database technology he helped spearhead with support from Hasso Plattner. Sikka announced his departure from SAP on 4 May 2014, after being named CEO of Infosys.
Infosys leadership
Sikka joined Infosys, India's second-largest IT services exporter, as CEO and managing director on 12 June 2014. He assumed the role from S.D. Shibulal on 1 August 2014holidays. His compensation was set at $13 million annually plus $9 million in stock options. During his tenure, he advocated for innovation and automation in IT services, although his leadership saw internal tensions over strategy and governance.
In December 2015, Sikka announced Infosys' support for OpenAI, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing deep learning in a safe manner. He was listed as an advisor to the organization. He resigned as CEO and managing director on 18 August 2017, citing personal reasons and criticism from founders; he departed fully on 24 August when Nandan Nilekani assumed the chairmanship. In 2017, India Today ranked him 32nd on its list of India's 50 most powerful people.
Early career and startups
After completing his PhD, Sikka worked briefly at Xerox's research labs. He then founded iBrain, a company that competed with Business Objects in the business intelligence space; iBrain was later acquired by PatternRX. His second startup, Bodha.com, developed technology for non-invasive integration of enterprise applications and information. Following Bodha.com's acquisition, Sikka joined Peregrine Systems as their area vice president.
SAP and executive roles
Sikka joined SAP AG in 2002, heading the advanced technology group responsible for strategic innovative projects. He rose to senior vice president of architecture and chief software architect, defining the roadmap and technical direction for SAP products and infrastructure. In April 2007, he was named SAP's first chief technology officer, reporting to then-CEO Henning Kagermann. His mandate included overseeing the rollout of NetWeaver and the company's service-oriented architecture strategy.
After Léo Apotheker's resignation in 2010, Sikka joined a reconstituted executive board under co-CEOs Bill McDermott and Jim Hagemann Snabe. At SAP, he was a leading advocate for in-memory database technology, championing HANA, which became central to the company's product strategy.
Infosys leadership
Sikka left SAP in May 2014 after being named the next leader of India-based IT services firm Infosys. He officially became CEO and managing director on 1 August 2014, succeeding co-founder S.D. Shibulalcans. His compensation was set at $13 million annually plus stock options valued at $9 million. During his tenure, Sikka pushed a strategy emphasizing artificial intelligence and automation. In December 2015, he announced Infosys's support for the newly formed non-profit OpenAI, and he was listed among its early advisers.
Sikka resigned as MD and CEO on 18 August 2017 after three years; U. B. Pravin Rao took over on an interim basis, and Nandan Nilekani became chairman on 24 August 2017.
Vianai and later roles
In 2019, Sikka founded Vianai with $50 million in initial funding, recruiting advisors such as Indra Nooyi, John Etchemendy, Divesh Makan, Sebastian Thrun, and Alan Kay. The company focuses on enterprise AI and machine learning tools. At a demo on 17 September 2019, Sikka announced Vianai had developed its own programming language intended to make deep learning techniques more accessible to a broader range of developers and businesses.
Sikka continues to serve on several boards and advisory groups. He was named to Oracle's board of directors in December 2019 SW, holds a seat on the supervisory board of the BMW Group, and advises the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI. Earlier, from 2006 to 2009, he was a member of the advisory board of Coghead, and in 2008 he joined the executive board of the CTO Forum, a non-profit community for technology leaders.
Recognition and perspective
In 2017, India Today magazine ranked Sikka 32nd in its list of India's 50 most powerful people, reflecting his influence during his Infosys tenure. He has consistently emphasized the importance of making AI practical and accessible, particularly through neural network technologies, deep learning, and enterprise-scale systems. His work at Vianai focuses on simplifying AI adoption for businesses, building on his earlier advocacy for in-memory computing and platform innovation.