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CSC boss Gossain is now an ex-exec

He's 'transitioning to the next chapter of his career', says firm

CSC UK chief Sanjiv Gossain has joined the not-so-selective club of ex-execs, leaving the ailing integrator less than two years into his tenure.

In a wonderful blurt of business-speak, CSC sent us a statement on his departure, confirming Gossain is leaving to “pursue other opportunities as he transitions to the next chapter of his career”.

Gossain arrived at CSC bright eyed and bushy tailed in April 2014 to replace Liz Benison as UK, Ireland and Netherlands veep and GM, an appointment signed off by global CEO Mike Lawrie.

His past endeavours included running Cognizant Technology Solutions’ local ops, and working as chief techie at both IMLogic and Cambridge Technology Partners.

But the size of the turnaround at CSC, following years of mass redundancies to purge expenses and improve profits, was, perhaps, too big for Gossain – or indeed, any one individual, sources have suggested.

“It doesn’t matter how this is dressed up: either he [Gossain] got fed up or Lawrie recycled him. If so many people were successful at other organisations but don’t last under Lawrie, it raises some questions,” one former senior CSC person told us.

Insiders claimed in 2015 and 2014 that customers were already feeling the pinch from cost cutting in terms of service delivery, and the complex organisational matrix slowed decision making.

As part of the improvement plan, CSC carved off its North America public sector business last year, but this was the only unit that was consistently delivering profits.

Industry chatter suggested the rest of the business was put up for sale but no one has yet stepped forward to finalise a deal. Quite the opposite, in fact: CSC is acquiring Xchanging.

CSC confirmed finance director Mark Pickett will run the UK, Ireland and Netherlands subsidiaries as acting GM “until a replacement is appointed.”

Pickett joined CSC in 2014. Prior to that he was chief EMEA beanie at Oracle. Before that he was a chartered accountant at Touche Ross & Co.

With the Xchanging buyout taking place at the moment, ex-HP man Craig Wilson may well be the next person Lawrie decides to put behind the wheel of CSC UK. But at this point, that is mere speculation. ®

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