TEANECK, N.J., July 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH), a leading provider of information technology, consulting, and business process outsourcing services, today announced that Michael Patsalos-Fox has been elected to its Board of Directors.

Mr. Patsalos-Fox, 59, is a Senior Partner of McKinsey & Company, where he has worked for 31 years. During his tenure at McKinsey, Mr. Patsalos-Fox has served on the Firm's Operating Committee and elected Board for several years. He has led the Americas region, the New York and New Jersey Offices, the North American Corporate Finance and Strategy practice, and the European Telecoms practice. Since 2009, he has been leading McKinsey's new global data and software growth opportunities.

"We are delighted to welcome Michael to Cognizant's Board of Directors," said Francisco D'Souza, Chief Executive Officer of Cognizant. "Michael is a proven leader in the consulting industry. His international experience across a broad range of industries and deep strategic insight will be invaluable as we continue to broaden and deepen the penetration of our existing services, while simultaneously developing our next generation offerings."

Born in Cyprus, Mr. Patsalos-Fox has lived in Australia, Switzerland, the UK, and USA. He holds a B.Sc. in computer sciences and pure mathematics from Sydney University in Australia, and an MBA with distinction from the International Institute of Management Development (IMD), Lausanne, Switzerland. Mr. Patsalos-Fox also serves on the Board of the Playwrights Horizons Theater Company. Mr. Patsalos-Fox plans to retire from McKinsey in the next several months.

With his election, Cognizant's Board of Directors now consists of nine directors, seven of whom are independent under NASDAQ's rules.

About Cognizant

Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) is a leading provider of information technology, consulting, and business process outsourcing services, dedicated to helping the world's leading companies build stronger businesses. Headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey (U.S.), Cognizant combines a passion for client satisfaction, technology innovation, deep industry and business process expertise, and a global, collaborative workforce that embodies the future of work. With over 50 delivery centers worldwide and approximately 140,500 employees as of March 31, 2012, Cognizant is a member of the NASDAQ-100, the S&P 500, the Forbes Global 2000, and the Fortune 500 and is ranked among the top performing and fastest growing companies in the world. Visit us online at www.cognizant.com or follow us on Twitter: Cognizant.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes statements which may constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the accuracy of which are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied include general economic conditions and the factors discussed in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Cognizant undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities law.

SOURCE Cognizant