Jerry Rao

Jaithirth "Jerry" Rao is an Indian businessman and entrepreneur. He is the founder and former CEO of the software company Mphasis. He is the founder of Value and Budget Housing Corporation (VBHC) (now known as VBHC Value Homes Pvt. Ltd.), an affordable housing venture which he founded in 2008 (Official website).[1][2] He was also a founder and director of Home First Finance Company,[3] a Housing Finance company focused on providing housing finance to first time home buyers.[4] He was also a member of the editorial advisory board of the Swarajya magazine.[5]

In 1998, Rao started Mphasis Corporation, a software company based in California, which subsequently merged with BFL Software in 2000. MphasiS rapidly rose to be one of the top 10 IT/BPO companies in India.[6] In 2008, EDS acquired a majority stake in MphasiS.[7] Mr. Rao stayed on as non-executive chairman of MphasiS and for some time as advisor to EDS.

Rao held several positions in Citibank prior to his founding MphasiS in 1998. In a banking career of over 20 years, he served with Citi and its parent Citicorp in various capacities in Asia, Europe, South America, and North America. He was Head of the Development Division of Citicorp and Chairman and CEO of Transaction Technologies Inc., based in California.

India.[8] Rao is an alumnus of Loyola College, Chennai, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and the University of Chicago. He has also been given a Distinguished Alumnus Award from Loyola College, IIM Ahmedabad and the University of Chicago. His many areas of interest include sustainable construction technology, I.T. strategy, customer relationship management (CRM) and e-commerce – a subject on which he has testified before the US Congress[citation needed]. He teaches at IIM Ahmedabad[citation needed], IIT Bombay[citation needed] and at LIBA, Chennai[citation needed]. He has been Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Harvard Business School[citation needed]. Rao has been on the boards of various companies. He has been on the Board of Trustees of Nasscom Foundation, Sujaya Foundation and India Foundation for the Arts[citation needed]

Personal life

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He takes interest in mentoring and advising technology and social enterprises. Rao is married and lives with his family in Mumbai, India. He is Madhwa Brahmin.

Selected writings

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Rao is a regular writer and speaker. Rao has published a volume of poetry (Gemini II published by Penguin India)[9] and a book of essays (Notes from an Indian Conservative published by Rupa).[10] He used to write a regular opinion column for the Indian Express and occasional columns for Seminar, Economic Times,[11] India International Centre Quarterly and Mint.

Books

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  • GEMINI II (1995)
  • Notes From An Indian Conservative (2012) ISBN 8129120003
  • The Indian Conservative: A History of Indian Right-Wing Thought (2019) ISBN 9353450624
  • Economist Gandhi: The Roots And The Relevance Of The Political Economy Of The Mahatma (2021)

Honors

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Rao is a recipient of several distinguished business and government recognitions. He has been the Chairman of India's National Association of Software and Service Companies – NASSCOM. He was named the Ernst & Young 'Entrepreneur of the Year 2004' for the New York region along with MphasiS Vice Chairman Jeroen Tas,[12] which followed his being similarly awarded in India for the year 2001 previously.[13] In 2005, the Government of the Indian state of Karnataka honored him with the Rajyotsava Award.[14]

References

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  1. ^ "VBHC charts Rs 300 cr expansion plan". business-standard.com. 11 July 2012.
  2. ^ "Govt positively discourages affordable housing: Jerry Rao". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 20 July 2012.
  3. ^ Sinha, Shilpy (8 July 2016). "Home First Finance Company is looking to sell 30% stake for Rs 250 crore to fund operations". The Economic Times. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  4. ^ "Carlyle Group Invests $26 Mn In Jerry Rao's Affordable Housing Project". DealCurry.com. 26 August 2011. Archived from the original on 15 October 2012.
  5. ^ Pande, Manisha (11 September 2014). "A New Swarajya". Newslaundry. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  6. ^ "MphasiS Company History". moneycontrol.com. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  7. ^ "EDS acquires majority stake in MphasiS". business-standard.com. 8 June 2006.
  8. ^ What made CK Prahalad a management guru
  9. ^ "Launch of Aditya Surdarshan's novel and a reading by Jaithirth (Jerry) Rao". 13 March 2009. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013.
  10. ^ "Notes From An Indian Conservative". Rupa Publications. Archived from the original on 8 January 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  11. ^ "Columns by Jaithirth Rao". indianexpress.com. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  12. ^ "Jerry Rao and Jeroen Tas named Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year® 2004 Award Winners". Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  13. ^ "EOY 2001 Winners". Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  14. ^ "Rajyotsava Award for Jerry Rao". 1 November 2005. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
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