S. Gopalakrishnan and Family

S. Gopalakrishnan co-founded Infosys and ran it for six years. His most consequential current investment is in research on diseases that affect the ageing brain.

Gopalakrishnan co-founded Infosys in 1981 alongside Narayana Murthy and five others, and served as its CEO between 2007 and 2011, a period during which the company navigated the aftermath of the global financial crisis while maintaining its industry-leading margins. His tenure built on the strong governance foundations the founders had established, and the company continued the consistent execution that had made it one of the most reliable large-cap stocks in India over the preceding two decades.

After stepping back from executive responsibilities, Gopalakrishnan has concentrated significant energy on scientific philanthropy. His personal commitment of approximately Rs 225 crore to the Centre for Brain Research at the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru funds research into neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and related conditions that affect millions of Indians and for which treatment options remain limited. The investment reflects both a personal interest in scientific research and a calculation that applied science funding from individuals who understand how institutions work can be more efficiently deployed than equivalent amounts channelled through general charitable programmes.