Vishal Sikka has resigned as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Infosys sources Say the resignation has been accepted with immediate effect and appointed U B Pravin Rao has been appointed as the interim-managing director and chief executive officer

Infosys says succession plan for appointment of new managing director and chief executive officer operationalised by board; search for same has commenced, Sikka will be the executive vice-chairman‍​ and will receive an annual salary of $1 during his tenure as executive vice chairman.

Media report say Sikka cited among his reasons for leaving “a continuous stream of distractions and disruptions” in recent months.

In a filing to BSE, the company said, “Sikka reiterated his belief in the great potential of Infosys, but cited among his reasons for leaving a continuous stream of distractions and disruptions over the recent months and quarters, increasingly personal and negative as of late, as preventing management’s ability to accelerate the company’s transformation.”

Differences were simmering between Murthy and Sikka with the former repeatedly criticising the latter’s policies in the organisation. This is the second time that Infosys has plunged into a leadership crisis ever since the founder members retired from top management.