BANGALORE--Indian IT giant Infosys is expected to end its 12-year relationship with PR partner The Practice at the end of this month, with a decision on its new agency-of-record imminent.

After calling a review of the public relations business last year, the Holmes Report understands that The Practice was informed in late December that it had not made the final round of pitching.

The decision will bring a close to a 12-year relationship that has helped Infosys build its reputation from  plucky outsourcing upstart to respected global technology player.

In the process, the account also established The Practice as one of India’s premier independent PR firms. CEO Nandita Lakshmanan declined to comment on the development.

The Infosys PR review attracted interest from several of India’s biggest PR firms. The Practice was invited to defend its hold on the business and is understood to have made the final trio of contenders before being cut.

The pitch follows the arrival of Sukanya Ghosh as Infosys global head of corporate communications in late 2011. “We have not closed our discussions as yet on the new contract for our PR partnership in India,” said Ghosh. “Our existing relationship with The Practice continues.”

The review is widely viewed as a response to some of the media and shareholder criticism levelled at the $7bn software company in recent times, thanks to disappointing financial returns.