TEANECK, N.J., Feb. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) today announced that Vinita Bali has been appointed to its Board as a new independent director effective February 24, 2020 and that Vice Chairman Francisco D'Souza will leave the Board effective March 31, 2020. 

Vinita Bali Named to Cognizant Board

Ms. Bali, 64, was most recently Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Britannia Industries, an India-based food company, from 2005 to 2014.  Prior to Britannia, she spent most of her career in senior general management, corporate strategy and marketing roles for The Coca-Cola Company and Cadbury Schweppes Plc.

Ms. Bali is a member of the Boards of NYSE-listed Bunge Ltd., an agribusiness and food company, and Smith & Nephew Plc, a global portfolio medical technology business, as well as India-listed Syngene International Ltd., a research and manufacturing company, and CRISIL Ltd., an analytics company.  She previously served on the Boards of several other companies listed on the NYSE or in India.

"We are delighted that Vinita Bali has joined the Cognizant Board," said Michael Patsalos-Fox, Cognizant's Chairman of the Board.  "We believe Vinita's extensive and successful experience at large companies, both India-based and multinational, will make a significant contribution to Cognizant."

Francisco D'Souza to Step Down from Board

Francisco D'Souza was elected to Cognizant's Board of Directors in January 2007 and has served as Vice Chairman since June 2018. He co-founded Cognizant in 1994 and served as the company's CEO from January 2007 through March 2019. In addition to his tenure as CEO, he served as President from 2007 to 2012 and held a variety of senior management positions, including Chief Operating Officer, from 2003 to 2006.

Patsalos-Fox added, "A key architect of Cognizant, Frank helped lead the company through a quarter-century of remarkable growth and success. He leaves a powerful and unforgettable legacy as a global thinker, mentor, builder, and champion of initiatives that improve lives in our communities."

"Frank has been an extraordinary leader. He deserves enormous recognition for his achievements at Cognizant. On a personal level, I am fortunate to have him as a trusted confidant and sounding board," said Brian Humphries, Cognizant CEO. "I also look forward to working closely with our newly appointed independent director, Vinita Bali, who brings to our board her extensive global strategic and operational leadership experience and deep India business expertise."

About Cognizant 
Cognizant (Nasdaq-100: CTSH) is one of the world's leading professional services companies, transforming clients' business, operating and technology models for the digital era. Our unique industry-based, consultative approach helps clients envision, build and run more innovative and efficient businesses. Headquartered in the U.S., Cognizant is ranked 193 on the Fortune 500 and is consistently listed among the most admired companies in the world. Learn how Cognizant helps clients lead with digital at www.cognizant.com or follow us @Cognizant.

SOURCE Cognizant