User Profile

linkedin.com/in/maheshwarianant

@_MAnant

President, India, Microsoft

Anant has over two decades of leadership exposure in global and Indian organizations, and over a decade of experience in industry and corporate governance. In his current role as President Microsoft India (Sept 2016 onwards), he has been a member of the leadership team in designing and executing Microsoft’s customer facing storied global transformation as the leading digital platforms and services company on the planet. Prior to Microsoft, Anant experienced a wide cross-section of leadership roles during a tenure of over twelve years (2004-16) at Honeywell International, a multi-industry conglomerate spanning multiple verticals: building and process automation, aerospace, energy & specialty chemicals, and transportation. At Honeywell, he started in 2004 with India growth strategy and then played critical leadership roles, culminating in leading the Honeywell India portfolio as President Honeywell India (2014-2016). He started his corporate career with McKinsey & Co as a consultant in 1998 to serve multiple industries ranging from high-tech, telecom, energy, steel & commodities, automotive, and pharmaceuticals. Anant is currently serving as an Independent Director on the board of Hindalco Industries – a global leader in metals (aluminum and copper), and listed on Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). He has served on the board of directors of BSE listed Honeywell Automation India Ltd (HAIL) from 2010 to 2016, first in the capacity as the Managing Director (2010-2014) and then as a promoter representative (2014-2016). He has also served as a member of board and advisory committees of India entities of Honeywell and Microsoft. Anant has been an active member of government committees and industry leadership forums: member of NASSCOM Executive Council since 2017, and Chair of CII Committee for IT & ITeS since 2018. He has been recognized as a young leader in the first Economic Times listing of emerging 40 India leaders under 40 years age in 2013-14. He completed his post-graduate education with an MBA from IIMA (Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad) as an industry scholar, and graduated as a merit scholar with dual degrees from BITS Pilani in 1996: MSc (Hons) Economics and BE (Hons) Electrical & Electronics. Anant is married to Akanksha and has two sons: Kabir and Adil. He is currently based in Gurgaon. Anant is a Fellow of the fifth class of the Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.