In the complex business world, Anuj Kumar Maheshwari is recognized for his financial expertise and dynamic leadership. With a career encompassing diverse experiences and a dedication to fostering the business’s growth, Anuj has become the driving force for transformative change in the Telecom, Food retail, and tech startup sectors. His journey through the dynamic landscapes of finance across diverse sectors exemplifies resilience, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to growth.
A Path of Professional Success
Anuj’s career has taken him through different roles across prestigious organizations, shaping his perspective and expertise along the way. His journey began at Bharti Airtel, and he progressed through transformative roles at prominent companies like Tata, Yum! Brands, Flipkart, OYO, and Cars24, where the magnificent man spearheaded high-impact financial projects. After 15 years in India, he embraced the challenge of a new geography, Indonesia. Navigating a multicultural environment, he led Kanmo Group through the pandemic, turning the crisis into an opportunity for digital transformation. Despite the turbulent times, he successfully secured a major fundraising round in 2022 with backing from a blue-chip investor and took the company public in 2023. As Group CFO at Kanmo Group, he focuses on strategic financial planning, omnichannel retail, and business transformation.
In addition to his full-time role, Anuj actively mentors startups, guiding them through their growth journeys. He also serves as an Investment Committee member for a SEBI-approved Angel Fund, where the leading man leverages his expertise in finance and strategic planning to evaluate and support innovative ventures. This part-time role enables him to stay closely connected with emerging businesses, helping them secure funding and navigate challenges while contributing to the overall entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The Key Inspiration Behind Joining Kanmo Group
Kanmo Group’s vision to inspire and enrich life journeys resonated with Anuj’s belief in using financial strategies to create meaningful business impact. The opportunity to work with a company that values innovation, customer experience, and sustainable growth in retail presented a compelling challenge. The omnichannel retail environment, combined with the potential to shape strategic finance in a dynamic market like Indonesia, which is the fastest-growing economy in SEA, inspired him to join and contribute to the company’s ambitious goals.
Creating a Balance between Innovation and Stable Financial Operations
Balancing innovation with financial stability requires a data-driven approach, where Anuj and his team continuously assess market trends and customer demands while ensuring financial prudence. At Kanmo Group, Anuj focuses on optimizing processes and integrating advanced technologies like AI and data analytics to foster innovation while upholding a robust financial foundation. “We regularly evaluate ROI on new initiatives and prioritize investments that align with our long-term strategic goals”, emphasizes Anuj.
Mentoring and Nurturing the Next Generation Leaders
The visionary man believes in fostering a growth mindset, encouraging open communication, and providing young professionals with the tools they need to navigate challenges. He always focuses on experiential learning and creating an environment where future leaders can innovate and take calculated risks. His role as an Angel Fund Investor committee member allows him to interact with next-generation young founders and exchange innovative solutions and business models around it.
Distinctive Strategies to Foster Leadership and Growth
According to Anuj, building a high-performing finance team involves promoting continuous learning and offering opportunities for both personal and professional development. He emphasizes mentorship, accountability, and teamwork, encouraging his team to adopt a forward-thinking approach to problem-solving. Regular workshops and leadership training ensure that the team stays ahead of industry trends and maintains a strong focus on strategic financial management. Anuj adds, “At Kanmo, we leverage Fun Department Night (FDN) event every Quarter by each department team to collaborate with other department outbound activities. It’s a great opportunity that allows for cross-functional collaboration and learning with fast closure of open issues between two teams. At Exco level we have our weekly Leadership huddle to colloborate and support each other”
The Key Driving Factors Behind Kanmo Group’s Vision
Kanmo Group’s vision is focused on delivering exceptional customer experiences and providing products that enhance people’s lives. The entire team is driven by a customer-first approach, ensuring that the brands meet the evolving needs of families and individuals. Their commitment to innovation, combined with a deep understanding of retail dynamics, helps them to remain relevant and impactful across all markets. Through their portfolio of brands, they cover multiple life journeys for example Mom-infant, Kids’ schooling and dressing, adult footwear, Teens 1st luxury brands, premium Coffee machines, and lifestyle journeys.
Evaluating and Integrating New Brands and Partners
Anuj and his team carefully evaluate potential brands and partners based on their alignment with their values, market relevance, and growth potential. Strategic fit, financial performance, and customer-centricity are key criteria. Once aligned, they focus on integrating these brands seamlessly into their omnichannel strategy, ensuring they contribute to their broader goals of sustainable growth and enriching our customers’ journeys.
Overcoming the Obstacles Along the Way
Navigating the omnichannel landscape involves overcoming challenges related to integrating physical and digital retail. At Kanmo Group, Anuj faced the need to unify customer experiences across platforms while ensuring operational efficiency. By investing in technology and enhancing data-driven decision-making, they were able to streamline their operations and provide a consistent, personalized experience across all channels.
The Emerging Technologies with Significant Impact on Retail
Technological advancements, such as AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics, are poised to revolutionize the retail sector. In the omnichannel space, these technologies can enhance customer engagement, personalize experiences, and optimize supply chains. Anuj believes that retailers who successfully integrate these tools will have a competitive edge in providing seamless, customer-first experiences.
AI, augmented reality (AR), and the Internet of Things (IoT) are likely to play pivotal roles in shaping the future of retail. AI-driven personalization, AR-enhanced shopping experiences, and IoT-enabled smart supply chains will redefine how retailers interact with customers and manage operations. These technologies will also enable greater automation and efficiency.
The Latest Tech Integration Aligned with the Company’s Strategic Objectives
Under Anuj’s leadership, the Kanmo team takes a cautious yet progressive approach to adopting new technologies, ensuring they align with the company’s business goals. The innovative leader, Anuj always prioritizes scalability, cost-efficiency, and long-term value when evaluating technology investments. By involving cross-functional teams in the decision-making process, he ensures that any technological adoption supports his strategic vision and enhances operational efficiency.