CFOs representing PSUs, Healthcare, Finance, Technology, Fintech and others have withstood the test of time with a steady financial grip and wary eye on making it to the awards list of 2021.
Who is a CFO? The answer to this question has evolved just like the inherent nature of this role in the last 18 months, which have reiterated some of the old adages of the finance community.
“CFOs today are Chief Future Officers, looking onward at growth. Many have even essayed the role of Chief Transformation Officer and Chief Performance Officer too… I believe more and more CFOs will lead businesses and become CEOs,” says Dr Annurag Batra, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief BW Businessworld.
And to mark their outstanding contribution, the 5th edition of BW CFO and Finance Strategy Summit and Awards 2021 recognized 16 winners as the Best CFOs under various categories for their professional contribution, their strategy and their exceptional services to their company and the financial landscape of the country.
From a pool of 120 nominations to a shortlisted 56 nominations, an eminent jury panel chaired by Shri Rajnish Kumar, Former Chairman SBI, business and finance leaders pitched their achievements during these testing times to clinch the title. Fintech, Healthcare and insurance, and innovative emerging businesses stand out in a year that was decisively stuck by crises.
| People Awards | Best CFO Large Enterprise | Winner | Nitin Parekh, CFO, Cadila Healthcare Limited |
| People Awards | Best CFO Medium Enterprise | Winner | Rajib Mukhopadhyay, CFO, Indofil Industries Limited |
| People Awards | Best CFO PSU | Winner | Subodh Gupta, Director Finance, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) |
| People Awards | Best CFO Start-Up | Winner | Deena Jacob, Co-Founder & CFO, Open Financial Technologies Pvt. Ltd |
| People Awards | Best CFO Start-Up | Runner Up | Raman Sohi, CFO, Honasa Consumer Pvt Ltd (Mamaearth) |
| People Awards | Best Financial Team | Winner | Samir Ashta, CFO, CLP |
| People Awards | Best Financial Team | Winner | Mandeep Mehta, Deputy CFO, Max Life Insurance Company |
| People Awards | Most Promising Young CFO | Winner | Vivek Anand, CFO, DLF Limited |
| People Awards | Most Promising Young CFO | Winner | Vinit Teredesai, CFO, Mindtree Ltd |
| People Awards | Most Promising CFO | Winner | Rikhil Shah, CFO, SBI General Insurance Company Limited |
| Strategy Awards | Enhancing Competitiveness through M & A’S | Winner | Mahendra Kumar K, CFO, Tube Investments of India Ltd |
| Strategy Awards | Best Transformation Agent | Winner | M P Vijay Kumar, CFO, Sify Technologies Limited |
| Strategy Awards | Best Consistent Liquidity Management | Winner | Rajeev Gupta, CFO, L&T Technology Services Limited (LTTS) |
| Strategy Awards | Best Healthy Balancesheet Management | Winner | Anuraag Srivastava, Group CFO, Sterlite Power Transmission Limited |
| Service Provider | Finance Innovative Product of the Year | Winner | Cleartax – Rohit Razdan, CBO, Clear |
| Service Provider | Most Disruptive Finance Technology | Winner | Hersimran Kaur, Head-Finance, BharatPe |
A Year For Technology
Businesses adapted to increased digitisation and relied on intelligent automation as a business necessity. The pandemic driven push for contactless operations has also afforded Fintech a testimony like none other. Thus the increased digital adoption, the speedy upgradation of the digital infrastructure and the evolving notion of currency are some highlights that emerged from all the nominees.
M P Vijay Kumar of Sify Technologies, Rajeev Gupta of Larson and Toubro Technology Services, Vinit Teredesai, CFO of Mindtree garnered praise for their transformative work, consistent liquidity management and their achievements as a CFO respectively.
Fintech brands whose prowess have driven the contactless economy too emerged as winners. Hersimran Kaur, Head-Finance, BharatPe and Rohit Razdan, Chief Business Officer, Clear also bagged awards for their disruptive and innovative financial products over the course of the evening.
Emerging Business Shine
Business demands innovation and innovation facilitates business. As we witness a wave of successful start-ups going forth for a public listing, the innovation of emerging businesses stands out. Deena Jacob, Co-Founder and CFO, Open Financial Technologies and Raman Sohi, CFO of Honasa Consumer, which is behind the brand Mamaearth were also some of the leaders recognised.
Beyond Stewardship
The year gone by highlights the role of the CFO is more than financial stewardship. It is one of crisis management, leading change and being a strategic partner to the CEO. Many have withstood the test of time with a steady financial grip and wary eye on contingencies to remain prepared for the unexpected. Subodh Gupta of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Vivek Anand of DLF Limited, Mahendra Kumar K- Tube Investments of India Ltd, Anuraag Srivastava -Sterlite Power Transmission Limited, Samir Ashta of CLP and Rajib Mukhopadhyay- INDOFIL INDUSTRIES LIMITED are among leaders who displayed acute financial prowess.
In an interesting year for health and insurance, Nitin Parekh of Cadila Healthcare Limited, Rikhil Shah, SBI General Insurance Company Limited and Mandeep Mehta, Max Life Insurance Company also claimed prizes.