Unveiling the story behind the notable technology leader, Anant Maheshwari, this article delves into the remarkable trajectory of his career, his significant contributions to Microsoft India, and some intriguing facts about his personal life. From his strategic leadership that catapulted Microsoft India to new heights, to his decision to explore new horizons, and the legacy he leaves behind – we uncover it all.
Here are 10 facts about Anant Maheshwari that you may want to know.
Who is Anant Maheshwari?
Anant Maheshwari is a distinguished leader in the technology industry who recently resigned from his role as the president of Microsoft India. He joined Microsoft in 2016 and was responsible for the company’s overall presence and business in the country. He also spearheaded partnerships with policy makers, customers, business partners and the industry ecosystem.
He is passionate about Microsoft’s mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more, aligned with India’s inclusive growth agenda. He is also an active contributor to the industry and has served on various committees and councils of NASSCOM, USIBC, CII and Aspen Global Leadership Institute.
Why did he quit Microsoft India?
According to media reports, Maheshwari expressed his decision to explore new avenues and interests outside Microsoft. He did not disclose his future plans or the exact date of his departure. He thanked Microsoft for the opportunity to lead the India business and said he was proud of the team’s achievements34.
What are some of his achievements at Microsoft India?
Under Maheshwari’s leadership, Microsoft India has achieved several milestones in terms of growth, innovation and social impact. Some of them are:
- Growing the cloud business by more than 50% year-on-year and expanding the data center footprint to four regions.
- Launching new products and services such as Surface devices, Xbox Series X|S, Teams Rooms, Azure Orbital, Azure Synapse Analytics and Power Platform.
- Partnering with government agencies, educational institutions, healthcare providers, startups and enterprises to enable digital transformation and address societal challenges such as COVID-19, education access, skilling and sustainability.
- Supporting the development of local talent and ecosystem through initiatives such as AI for Good, Future Ready Talent, Highway to a Hundred Unicorns and M12 Ventures.
- Driving a culture of diversity and inclusion within the organization and beyond through programs such as Women in Cloud, Women in Tech, LGBTQ+ Ally Network and Accessibility Champions.
Who will succeed him at Microsoft India?
Microsoft has announced some leadership changes within the company following Maheshwari’s resignation. Irina Ghose, who was the chief operating officer of Microsoft India, has been promoted to managing director of India. She will report to Jean-Philippe Courtois, executive vice president and president of Microsoft Global Sales, Marketing & Operations.
Navtej Bal, who was the executive director of public sector at Microsoft India, has been appointed as the chief operating officer. He will report to Ghose. Venkat Krishnan, who was the executive director of commercial partners at Microsoft India, has been elevated to vice president of commercial partners for Asia Pacific. He will report to Matt Codrington, vice president of commercial partners for Asia Pacific.
What are some interesting facts about Anant Maheshwari?
Besides his professional achievements, here are some interesting facts about Anant Maheshwari that you may not know:
He is an alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad and BITS Pilani.
He loves reading books on history, biographies and business.
He is an avid runner and cyclist who participates in marathons and triathlons.
He is a fan of cricket and football and supports Manchester United.
He is married and has two children.
