Conduent names new CEO in rapid board shake-up
NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES — Conduent has initiated a sweeping leadership transition, appointing Board Chairman Harsha V. Agadi as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective immediately. Meanwhile, Margarita Paláu-Hernández assumes the role of independent Board Chair, according to the company’s press release.
At the same time, outgoing CEO Cliff Skelton departs the company and its board, marking a sudden strategic shift for the technology-driven business solutions firm.
“I look forward to working closely with the Conduent team to leverage the company’s unique strengths, accelerate the pace of our growth, and deliver long-term value for our clients, shareholders, and employees,” said Agadi.
Leadership shake-up signals new strategy
The immediate, concurrent changes at the highest levels of Conduent’s governance structure indicate a deliberate, decisive pivot in corporate strategy.
Agadi, who has just been appointed to the board, was immediately made direct to the CEO, with Paláu-Hernández becoming an independent Chair, and is a clean-sheet executive management.
This is an immediate change in operational and board leadership, suggesting that the board is seeking to implement a new vision quickly.
This overhaul was framed by departing Skelton as a natural transition, saying, “With the Company well-positioned for the future, this is the right time to begin the transition to a new CEO with the requisite skills and experience to lead the company through its next phase of development.”
The decision centralizes management under individuals with new outlooks, with a direct goal of leveraging the inherent advantages of a long-established company with advanced technologies to compete more effectively and increase shareholder value.
New leaders bring deep governance expertise
The new appointments put experienced corporate governance and operational veterans in the top management of Conduent, where experience is paramount in running a complex organization.
Agadi brings more than 35 years of executive experience, including serving as CEO of 6 companies over the last 25 years and holding other senior positions.
With a history of leading audit committees and serving on the boards of public companies, he has the experience to implement strict financial and strategic controls as Conduent seeks to expand more quickly.
On the same note, the new independent Chair, Paláu-Hernandez, is an experienced board director of large corporations across various industries.
Her legal experience and prior service as a representative of the United States to the General Assembly of the United Nations provide the board with regulatory and multifaceted experience in diplomatic negotiations.
The strategic emphasis of this leadership profile on strong governance, multi-industry expertise, and the need to negotiate the difficulties associated with operating a large-scale organization are paramount as Conduent embarks on its next phase of development.
Conduent ranked #33 in the OA500 2025, an objective index of the world’s top 500 outsourcing companies. The 2026 edition of the OA500 is expected to be released in March.
