IndiaRetailing brings you a series on India’s key retail tech icons. Featuring Anil Menon, CIO at LuLu Group India this week
Today’s CIO must know how to leverage technology to create value for the business. No longer are CIOs department heads of a support function, they are in the driver’s seat and need to be more than just subject-matter experts. According to International Data Group (IDG)’s “State of the CIO Study 2022,” 58 percent of workers outside of IT describe their company’s CIO as a “strategic advisor who proactively identifies business opportunities and makes recommendations.”
In this special feature, India Retailing showcases the torchbearers of retail technology. This week, the spotlight is on….
Anil Menon
Executive with 19 plus years of experience across information technology, retail, e-commerce, real estate, logistics & hospitality organisations, Anil Menon currently holds the position of CIO at LuLu Group India. In his previous capacity as General Manager – IT innovation at Tata Starbucks & Head –IT, Trent Hypermarket Pvt. Ltd., he worked extensively on the company’s digital transformational projects, cloud and mobility platforms, retail analytics, enterprise systems and security & information management systems.
Anil is extremely passionate about using the latest in technology to provide business solutions to accelerate growth. He has been instrumental in technology use cases that can revamp customer journeys and make operations more efficient.
Roles & Responsibilities
– Digital transformational projects
– Cloud & mobility platforms
– Retail analytics
– Enterprise systems
– Security & Information management systems
Career History & Experience
– LuLu Group India
Chief Information Officer
Jan 2021 – Present
– Starbucks India
General Manager Information Technology – Innovation
Jan 2019 – Jan 2021
– Trent Hypermarket Pvt Ltd. Star Bazaar- A Tata & Tesco Enterprise Head Information Technology
Jun 2014 – Jan 2019
– Cybage Software Ltd.
Solution ArchitectSolution Architect
Jan 2013 – May 2014
– Future Knowledge Services Ltd.
Lead Business Analyst
Jan 2010 – Mar 2013
– Manager. Business Systems
WRL
Jan 2008 – Dec 2009
– Functional Consultant
SYSTIME Computers Ltd
June 2007- Jan 2008
Education
– Indira Institute of Business Management
PGDBM, Marketing (2001 – 2003)
– Gokhale Education Society’s H.A.L.College of Science, Ozar Township, Dist. Nashik
B.C.S, Computers (1996 – 2000)
Aspirations to Fulfil
Football, that’s my wind down if time permits. I also love to trek whenever possible. I love exploring, talking, and meeting people, so I travel a lot and generally music is a big relief for me.
Game changing retail technologies
– Augmented reality
– Machine learning
– Blockchain
Tech mantra for life
Listen read and learn. It gives a lot of insights on what the world is thinking and how some of these technology will impact or can be used in retail.
Bigger plans on horizon
To start a sports academy in future. To build an old age home and orphanage someday to take care of mankind and do my bit.
Awards
– BTX Top Executive Awards Asia -2021
– Catalyst Awards 2021- Asia Edition
– The World CIO Awards- India Edition
This article first appeared in the November 2022 edition of Images Retail.