Shanker Annaswamy, the India head of one of the world’s biggest software majors, has a modest view of himself. “I am a hard-working, not a brilliant person,” says the managing director, IBM Global Services India. Annaswamy says he works as a catalyst in the company; he’s more of a collaborative, enabling person. “It’s a style that has always worked for me,” he explains.

Actually, it’s worked wonders. At the age of 48 ? when many corporate professionals are chalking out retirement plans ? Annaswamy gave up a 26-year stint in medical systems and made a leap to the software sector. He was offered the top job at IBM India and he took up the challenge. He is the first non-IBM employee to make it to the hot seat. (IBM’s global chief Samuel J. Palmisano is an insider. But his predecessor ? Louis Gerstner ? was brought in from outside to rescue the company.)

Annaswamy is a product of Raja Muthya High School in Chennai. In those far-off days, he had never imagined he’d reach so high in life. He was the average, boy-next-door, who could barely read through his history and geography books in school. To escape these dreaded subjects, he opted for engineering elective in Class XI. Annaswamy discovered that engineering flowed in his blood. “I was a natural at technical subjects. I was suddenly standing first in class,” he says.

The next stop was the Madras University-affiliated, College of Engineering, Guindy, where Annaswamy studied electronics and communication. College life was a healthy mix of books, chat sessions and long bike rides with friends.

The cocooned south Indian left Chennai for the first time when he got a job with Philips Medical Systems in Mumbai in 1978. He was assigned a graduate apprentice programme with two boys from Punjab who took it upon themselves to teach Annaswamy the ways of northern India. “They refused to talk to me in English and I couldn’t understand Hindi at all,” recalls Annaswamy. The ragging helped. Annaswamy says his world-view widened and he learnt Hindi and Punjabi double quick. He also began to relish sarson da saag and makki di roti like a true Punjabi.

The learning process at Philips didn’t end there. “I worked in sales, techno-commercial jobs, service and product management. Philips gave me great cross-functional exposure,” says Annaswamy. The big learning break came when he was sent to the US to sell India’s potential as a manufacturing hub to the board of directors of a sister company. Annaswamy came back with valuable technology. Philips was reluctant to manufacture ultrasound machines in India. “My team leader had egged me on to handle the deal alone. He just stepped back and enjoyed the success of what I brought in,” he recalls.

In 1990, Annaswamy unwillingly quit Philips. “The job moved to Mumbai and my wife was doing a PhD in Bangalore,” he says. Annaswamy stayed put in Bangalore and joined Wipro GE Medical Systems. The work was more of the same ? technology transfer from Japan, and cross-functional responsibilities.

In 1994, Annaswamy decided to take a break from the corporate world. He took up a job as advisor to the government of Oman. He spent three years in the lap of luxury. He lived in a sprawling villa, learnt all about the rich Omanese culture and trained three local people to set up the state healthcare system.

But you can’t take the zest out of a corporate honcho. Annaswamy was back in Wipro GE Medical Systems in three years and shouldering the responsibility of running manufacturing and operations for the company. “This was a job I hadn’t tackled before. I learnt from people working for me,” he says. Wipro GE took Annaswamy to Tokyo where he headed the CT scanners division for Asia, Australia and New Zealand. He returned to India two years later as President and CEO, Wipro GE Medical Systems.

Change comes from unexpected quarters. Annaswamy was invited to a CEO conclave, which was to be addressed by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Kalam talked about how IT could transform India, especially in rural education and health. The speech got Annaswamy charged. “I wanted to contribute to the IT momentum,” he says. The IBM job offer came out of the blue in 2004. “I decided to re-invent myself and took up the job,” says Annaswamy.

At 49, Annaswamy is excited about his new beginning. “I feel fresh,” he says. “These are exciting times for India and I want to be a part of the party.”