Breakfast with BS: How Capgemini CEO Paul Hermelin is managing two worlds

​Hermelin tells Niraj Bhatt that the traditional IT business is one of price discount and cost management, while new areas such as digital, cloud and AI entail high growth

The software services industry is undergoing a transformation as old growth engines are not working any longer and rising protectionism is causing concerns about the road ahead. However, Capgemini’s Paul Hermelin is not complaining. He says when client needs change, it is good for software companies. 

“I view an IT (information technology) system as a plate of spaghetti and people struggle to eat it. We bring a little tomato sauce, a little cheese and make it edible. If you want an Indian metaphor, we add the masala sauce,” he laughs. We are at breakfast at the JW Marriott, Mumbai, and Hermelin