Eaton SAKS International Group

Eaton SAKS International is a Global Executive Search & Business Consultancy firm focussed on presenting the next generation leaders and human capital transformations.
Having adopted Design thinking and Agile Methodology across our practice, we work hand in hand with business leaders and shareholders constantly addressing their talent needs and iterating the strategies to address current and new challenges. As partners we appoint leaders who deliver significant success and ROI.

We operate through focused industry practice groups, each led by a Global Practice Partner. Each partner is backed by research teams and engagement managers to execute each defined search. 

Retained Executive Search 
Strategy Management & Advisory Services
Women in Leadership
Professional Recruitment
Research Mapping & Business Intelligence 
Localisation & Nationalisation 
Board & CEO Services
Executive Leadership Coaching 

Our clients always work with dedicated partners, practitioners, and research teams, focused and committed to exceeding expectations. Only leaders who have worked within your industry will be assigned to manage your assignments.

We take the time to understand each client’s business, culture and unique dynamics leading up to their current organisational need. We work with boards and stakeholders as well as hiring managers to successfully understand each assignment need and DNA.

Eaton SAKS International have taken experts from your industry and brought them to ours, together our knowledge becomes your power.

Don't just take our word for it, speak to any of our clients!


As Partner, - CFO  and Advisory  Practice-    I will lead in :

Executive Search & Headhunting,  CFO  Coaching  & Mentoring,  Corporate Finance & Strategy Advisory ,   Organizational Development and  Succession Planning

Partner - CFO and Advisory Practice

Sun Management Group (Reanda UAE)

Sun Management Group is a well-established professional services firm with a 20-year track record in the UAE, providing a complete suite of services — from company formation, accounting, audit, CFO services and training, compliance, to business process improvements and strategic advisory.

An exciting aspect of our operations is that Sun Management Group is a member of Reanda International, a leading global network of accounting and consulting firms, established in Beijing in 2009. Reanda today ranks 24th globally, with a presence in 60 countries, 170+ offices, and more than 6,200 professionals.

At Sun, I will be leveraging my 3 decades of experience, with last 2 decades in UAE, and my CFO journey since 2011,- I will be actively involved across all our service areas ,with a niche  focus on CFO Services , Corporate Trainings, Business development, Technology driven initiatives,   and setting up specialized businesses for our clients .

Director

Gulf Land Property Developers

Group is  a  Real estate developer in Dubai  with amazing fast growth pace  vision and actions,  with  a very  highly visionary leadership.  I report to   Group  Chairman 

Key Deliverables:

•	Clearing backlog of  Monthly  closing of Books and  completion of external audits under IFRS accounting standards.
•	Ensuring cash flow requirements for   under construction projects.  Financial modelling   for the projects. Investors funding . 
•	Driving the collection function, dealing with Unit holders.
•	Dealing with Land department , Rera -  Registration  and cancellation of Units under Oqood,  Release of funds under Escrow from TASS,  Filing of  Project  RERA reports with  RERA,
•	Guiding the Business on resale , top up  of units-  Recommending Sale price per sq ft to maximize profits.
•	Investors fundings- successfully closed an investor deal with funds infusion in the   Group
•	Ensuring  compliance  -  Vat, ESR, AML, Corporate tax.
•	Evaluation of monthly project profitability of projects.
•	Structuring the Group Finance team

Group Chief Financial Officer

Lootah  holding 

Group is into Diversified Businesses - Real Estate, Contracting, Logistics & Services, Technology, Interior fit out.
As Group Finance Director, I report to the Board and also to Board Member - Finance
                                                                Key Deliverables:
•	Driving overall finance, accounting, banking, legal, compliance, commercial function across the group in UAE and globally with the accountability of driving the overall profitability and cash flow of the group.
•	Implemented Work in Progress valuation method, Monthly Projects Profitability for contracting, real estate, interior fit out divisions.
•	Bank loan Restructuring, Valuations for Real estate, Logistics and Contracting division. 
•	Ensuring release of mortgage units with banks for real estate division.
•	Completion of pending external audits, and consolidated audited results. 
•	Structuring Group Finance team which had a significant turnover.
•	Responsible to Board on all financial, cash flow matters.
•	Led Digital transformation and system improvement. 
•	Instrumental in accelerating growth for a loss making vertical and a start-up unit.

Group Finance Director

AAB Tools Group of Companies

Group is having presence in UAE for more than 4 decades, with diversified Businesses in UAE, GCC, India – Trading/ Retail  and Distribution of Tools , Manufacturing and Trading of self adhesive tapes/packaging materials, Trading of Non Ferrous metal , Oil and Gas , Refinery of Petroleum Products, Construction as a developer, Interior Fit out and joinery.

As Group CFO and part of Management Executive Committee, heading the finance, commercial, legal, compliance functions , my most critical  deliverable is to ensure that the above diversified businesses are profitable and cash surplus and that there are adequate financial controls to ensure that Group is prepared to face any challenge. I look after the global operations both within UAE and in international markets, reporting to the Group Chairman and Group Board.: Annual Turnover AED 900 million  ( USD 250 MILLION )

Group CFO

Bafco  Group 

BAFCO Group of Companies, Dubai, UAE as Group Chief Financial Officer (GCFO)
Group is into manufacturing, contracting, trading of joinery items/ Interior fit outs in niche segment of providing office solutions:

JASCO INTERNATIONAL (FZC)

Group is an Interior fit out hospitality sub-contractor, in manufacturing, supply, installation of Wooden Furniture (Joinery) and non-Joinery items to Hotels, Vilas and Compounds in UAE AND International locations. And in trading of International brands of Toys as a Distributor:

Chief Financial Officer

Unibeton Ready Mix, Al Faraa group

Business Model: Manufacturing /Construction  Unit-  manufacturing ready mix concrete  through various batching plants .

Was responsible for  Business plans, Cost control measurements, Structuring business transactions, Profitability of the business unit,Management   of expansion in   local and international locations. . Was also involved  in vetting contractual agreements, share purchase agreements , MOU's , JV   and annual audit. Advising the    Board   of Directors   on all strategic matters through active participation with the Board. Have been   able to   reduce the   Overheads and bring in more revenues through internal and external measurements.Core member of the steering Committee   guiding Group ERP implementation.

Al Baker Group

Business model: Real  Estate / Construction  and   Trading   Group   ., Dubai- Sharjah, UAE -   

  Group is   in to trading  and Distribution   of medicines (Pharmaceuticals   division), Trading in Commodities / FMCG products (Commodities division) and Rentals of apartments (Real Estate Division). 

Reporting   directly   to the Group Chairman,   I head the Group   Finance   and Accounts   division of   all businesses of the group.
Prime responsibilities include advising the  Chairman  on strategic  issues  pertaining to business consolidation, Strategic business  relationships with Principals, Treasury and Finance,   Banking, Risk   assessment ,Effective  MIS and Controls across the group,  Property  Valuations.  
Have  acomplished   loan     re structuring   proposals with banks  in the recession times..
Have successfully brought order to the accounts deptt.  in  by getting pending audits done,  establishing  accounts  deptt. from scratch  for one of the divisions


	Have     been    leading the    team in the implementation of ERP across the real estate and Commodities div

Head Of Finance

DAMACHOLDING.COM

•	Business Model: Property Developer,/ Real Estate, Investments, Stock Brokerage and Food Processing.

Multi - Billion Dollar Group ,

Have had the unique opportunity of working in different divisions of the Group.
Invest/ Stock Brokerage Division:
Division invests in Stocks, Private Placements and Bonds across the world. .
 As an investment in charge of a Diversified Portfolio, recommending Buying and Selling shares/private placements /IPO'S/ P- note. Dealing in Derivatives/Structured Products. Driving the release- pledge process of shares, dealing with stock exchanges and brokers to transfer shares, change custodian. Conversion of GDR'S into ADR'S and Local Shares across different and vice versa. Have worked on different options/methods to invest in different countries. Conversant with Islamic Banking products.
 Raising funds (including IPO based leverage) in both local and international markets with different structures and currencies. Dealt with Banks, Private Equity firms, Pension and Sovereign Funds.
 Consolidation of accounts post acquisition. , Mergers and Acquisitions.
 Headed operations of Brokerage/ Securities Division.-

Properties/Real Estate Division: Worked on completing the due diligence exercise for the IPO preparation. Well versed with the commercial, legal, accounting, financial, projects aspects/processes of a Property Developer.
 Approval of land proposals, Accounting, Project financing, Costing, Collections, Escrow accounts, Project based Insurances.
 Compliance Obligations as per contract from land acquisition till construction and hand over.
 Have worked on Oracle based Integrated Property Management System (IPMS) accounting system.
 Handled the Business Valuation of the group

Financial Controller

Value additions

A Dynamic Business Turnaround Specialist with 28 years of robust experience in spearheading overall group finance, accounting, funding, commercial, procurement, taxation, legal functions, managing Commercial and Strategic Affairs of Diversified Family Business Units in local (UAE) and International markets (GCC, Asian Sub Continent, Far East Europe) of Group and its Subsidiaries.

Solid experience and expertise in driving finance and commercial functions in Diversified Sectors: Manufacturing, Contracting Retail /Trading/FMCG /Distribution, E Commerce, Interior fit out joinery, Construction, Property /Real Estate, Pharmaceutical, Investment, Petroleum outfits. 

Instrumental in managing growth of business by ensuring Profitability and Positive Cash flows, Funding needs, Risk Mitigation in local and international markets in survival, growth, growth cum acceleration, restructuring phases, ensuring business units deliver results in line with annual financial plans. .Managing Mayhem in pandemic times.

Finalist at CFO of the Middle East 2015-year award, CFO Middle East Magazine featured my Interview in its Sept 2015 issue-"Taking the Lead”. 

Renowned Speaker -   In 2020, At Global accounting and finance virtual summit May 2020, Summit September 2020, Spoke on Managing Mayhem and Risks in Pandemic  times. Delivered CFO talks for Global audience on “Business CFO “‘and how the role has changed in the pandemic  

Expertise in managing business and Group JV’s and acting as a strategic advisor to the Board for resolving any financial crisis. Holds distinction of championing and achieving comprehensive turnaround at two places. Driving and structuring local and international expansion in related and unrelated areas with effective ROI on expansion including mergers and acquisitions. 

Management of external audits with Big Four.

	Core Competencies

 	Cash Flow Management in tight liquidity conditions.
	Cost Control and Cost Reduction.
	Fund Raising, Dealing with Banks at all levels.
	Running operationally Diversified Businesses
	Digital Transformation, Ecommerce 
	Dealing with different nationalities and people management, Team Building.
        Dealing and influencing   Board /Stakeholders 
	Business Turnaround Specialist.
        Managing Mayhem in Pandemic times. 
	Strong Negotiator, with Solution driven mindset.
	Innovation, Risk Mitigation.
	Business Process Reengineering / System implementation, Shared Services 
	Hands on and strategic knowledge of Vat /Taxation
	Business Restructuring, Mergers and Acquisitions 
	Due Diligence.






Today October 29 , marks 34 years of my work life,  since I started my professional  journey , as Finance Executive  with Bombay Dyeing , Mumbai on October 29, 1991  .

From Finance Executive to Group CFO / Board Member/  CFO Coach/ CFO Mentor , From  a Rookie  in Oct 1991 to a  Global  Speaker , From an overly ambitious young man in 1991 , aiming to become  CFO in 5 years by 1996 , to a Pragmatic Me  ! 
What a ride in these 34 years.

34  years:  
Mix of successes  and  failures, Mix of some brilliant decisions to few very ordinary decisions by me . Not a bed of roses,  but a journey which has given me satisfaction , has kept me running  and  has kept me away from my comfort zone .
 
Beyond the Board Room and managing diversified Business verticals as Group CFO in UAE and International locations ,  I have been blessed to have done  for last 15 years,  what I have  liked the most -  Speaker  at CFO Conferences, Giving CFO talks, locally and globally  , Writing on Business, Finance, Strategy and Leadership and of course mentoring and coaching  Professionals.  Daily morning  running for the last 6 years, without a day break,  is another satisfaction.
These have been indeed exclusively ''  My Times " of tranquility and calm . 

Equally blessed to  have met  many wonderful people, with whom I have   learnt a  lot and who have played a decisive role in  these many years.
Many Many thanks for being with me and  for guiding me .  Grateful .

Amen !

CPA CA Anand Soni ,

Business CFO , Business Turnaround Specialist , Corporate Trainer, CFO Coach , Speaker , Writer , Daily Runner,

Indian Cricket is  indeed at the cusp of creating history !

The world waits for tomorrow, Sunday's  Mouth watering  final for Women Cricket when India take on South Africa .

Indeed there will be a new champion-

India have 2 failed attempts  in 2005  and 2017 at the coveted trophy at the final  .

The road to world cup final 2025  is indeed a  tale of Grit and glory -  From Confident start beating Sri Lanka,  set back against South Africa,  losing to Australia even after scoring 330 runs,  losing to England by 4 runs and almost out of world cup,  delivering a huge win against New Zealand to register a place in Semis, to a WORLD CUP record chase against Australia to enter final,  a record !
Wow, what a journey so far.
Story of perseverance,  teamwork, and self belief .

History beckons India- 
Losing by 9 runs 2017 world cup Final -  So near, yet so far.
171 RUNS  innings by Harmanpreet Kaur guiding India semis win against Australia in 2017 .
Agonizing defeat in 2005 world cup by 98  runs.

This time all roads leading to Indian Win  !  

Go for it to write the history ! 

Cricket Experts:
Rahine Bose 🇮🇳Drishti BaglaA. SyeeduddinPalak GoelUtkarsh Yadav-  What say ?

As a Speaker , if I have to single out some events, which have remained close to me , unique,  and which  I cherish always - one of them is of Nov 2022  !

Throw Back - 3 years, when in Nov 2022, We had this great Strategic Cost Control event- "Strategic Cost Control - Precursor for Growth. ", organized by Expense Reduction Analysts   ERA Group - EMEA, Dubai .

Event was crisp, precise , well organized - Coupled with hugely energetic  audience . Truly An Impeccable event in every way, delivering high impact.

It was a pleasure to be a speaker at the event on this tricky subject , which has always remained dear to me. , along with other esteemed speakers Shahid N. KhanAwais RehmanHatem Mahdy.

I stressed on the need for a  mindset change and paradigm shift while dealing with 2 different types of stakeholders - Owners / Board and the Operational Team . We need different story telling for both these stakeholders in this  complex exercise. Strategic Cost control can fail but if we have the willingness to persist , have strong will power, this unpleasant and most difficult exercise can be achieved.  True in Nov 2022 and True today in Nov 2025.

Shahid N. Khan's was a masterclass in Management, with umpteen success stories , intense understanding of human element, with strategies to have business improvement , immense learning, very inspirational !

And then we had some distinguished guests, who brought their great insights  to the event:
James MathewKaunain ShahidiKhaled KamelEsha D'Souza Shonaal A Lulla 

And  a Great host, and effective moderator at the Panel Session - Hatem Mahdy.


Alan MacLeanHoussine BelrhitiDavid RounsevellDianna Khan

Truth is stranger than fiction. Proof of pudding is in eating. Statistics do not lie. 
Yet Again ! Yet Again, --- Exceptional Results by RVG students, Mumbai, at Chartered accountants exam results.

 RVG Students Shine Again! 

The results of the CA Final Examination held in September 2025, declared on November 3, 2025, have once again filled the RVG Educational Foundation with immense pride.

A total of 73 students from RVG have successfully qualified as Chartered Accountants, with three students securing All India Ranks — 43, 44, and 49.

Continuing its legacy of excellence, RVG has achieved an outstanding pass percentage of over 60%, significantly higher than the national average. This remarkable performance reaffirms RVG’s position as one of the most prestigious hostels and learning centres for aspiring Chartered Accountants in the country.


Truth is stranger than fiction. Proof of pudding is in eating.
These are actual facts of the CA exams results declared this week. Statistics do not lie. Yes, You read it right . 

Congratulations to students and their parents. 

RVG Hostel at Mumbai , India is UNIQUE. 

I have been an alumni of RVG hostel in 1988-89 in my first year of CA articleship , and hence these results make me very happy , though they do not surprise me . RVG has a strong pedigree of giving astonishing results , in CA exams every time. 

RVG students continue to outperform and make all RVGians proud. 

 RVG hostel , is committed to the holistic development of over 1,200 CA students by providing world-class facilities including safe and comfortable stay, nutritious food, healthcare, academic mentoring, group discussions, career guidance, hobbies, sports, and spiritual enrichment.
The RVG community remains a beacon of excellence — nurturing not just professionals, but well-rounded individuals.


Congratulations RVG President Sunil Goyal  and the entire team for your efforts. You deserve all accolades . 🙏 

Madan Bajarang Lal Vaishnawa- My Room mate then in Room 421 


#RVG 
#CharteredAccountant 
#CAResults 
#HolisticDevelopment 
#StudentSuccess 
#Education 
#Leadership 
#ICAI 
#RVGAlumni

When I started my career 3 decades ago, after Qualifying as a Chartered accountant ( CA) in my first attempt , before my article ship got over, was all I needed for success in my career , an Ultimate Crowning Glory . This is what I believed then . 
 
This was not the best assessment I felt , after first 2 years of work life  
 

I then believed that having the best technical skills is the ultimate and knowledge alone is power , and is the surest way to get end results. 
 
This was also not the best assessment again , after another 10 years of the work life.  
 
 
 
I then did US Certified Public Accountant ( US CPA ) as I felt the need for the second Professional qualification to bolster my career journey and imbibe new learnings.
 
This was also not the best assessment after another 5 years at the work life. 
 
 
 
I then realized that dealing with all stakeholders, influencing them is the most important aspect for a Senior Finance Leader.
 
This was also not the best assessment after another 10 years at the work life. 
  
 
 
 Here is what I have realized is ONE NON NEGOTIABLE Factor for the success- 
 -( I wish I had known this earlier , and had believed in it from day one of my work life , alas not to be, an incorrigible Error ! ) 
 
❌ It is not your technical skills 
 
❌ It is not your qualifications. 
 
❌ It is not your knowledge only. 
 
❌ It is not your influencing abilities either. 
 
 
 
IT IS PEOPLE. 
 
 
How do you work with people ??
 
People, People, People , only make a difference.  
 
 
Listen, Care and Building is the panacea when you work with people. !!  
 
#CFO
#People 
#Panacea
#CrowningGlory

Appalling, Abysmally 16 / 100 marks in CA intermediate Group 1 , in Accounting paper in first attempt to 59 marks in next attempt , 3 decades ago. -- 

What a story of despair, hope and triumph. 

Chartered accountants Results are getting declared in the next week. 
It is a day to remember for the students , regardless the outcome of the result.
Success will be an eternal  accomplishment , which you will cherish , an accomplishment which will be with you always. 
Failure will be a temporary set back, but a certain ignition to do well next time.  

Success is not ultimate, failure is not final.

This does bring me , nostalgia of my own day of results declaration  in 1991, when the results were displayed at our Institute ‘s Colaba office , Mumbai.
 Late night on July 17, 1991 , when the results were declared , which showed that I had cleared both groups at Final CA at the first attempt.

But, here is the failure- I failed at CA Intermediate at my first attempt ,- With an abysmally, appalling , low 16 marks in accounting paper in the Group 1, Yes, You read it right. 

 I cleared Group 2, then , which was supposedly considered to be a tougher group in those days.  In the next attempt , I bounced back to get 59 marks in Accounting paper , where I had 16 / 100. , and cleared First group also.

Life’s gyrations will continue- Life’s meandering will continue , Life will test us at times , without notice. Take it or leave it !!

Only End results matters for CFO- It is not a cliche or a dogmatic doctrine. 

CFO can make the biggest mistake if the above gospel truth makes CFO to believe , he alone can do it, he alone needs to ensure and he alone can fix it. This belief, is too good to be true, even in short term for the CFO .

 Here is what we need to understand while interpreting End results for CFO:

✅ The End results are as required by the Owners/ Board/ CEO.

✅ CFO can work all the way , till cows come home , but if the efforts do not give the results as required by this leadership team, it is zero , howsoever uncharitable it is to write . Truth needs to be accepted.

✅ Does this mean CFO needs to be ruthless in quest of getting End results ?
No, not really !

✅Does this mean CFO needs to be friendly in quest of getting End results ?
No, not really !


☑️ This is what CFO needs to consider Enroute End Results:

✅ CFO needs to start with short victories, and then go for the big wins.

✅ CFO needs to take his team along. CFO is not a friend to his team , but a mentor, leader and someone who wins the trust of the team first as a human and then as a Professional .

✅ CFO needs to understand the End results in a context - Time, Financial Health of the business, Resources available.

✅ Measure the results. Results cannot be abstract but needs to be specific.

 ✅ It is ok for CFO to accept things have gone wrong, only to redefine End results.

✅ CFO, needs to be a task master , yet not ruthless and not a friend either.


#CFOCoaching
#CFOMentoring 
#EndResults
#Cliche
#DogmaticDoctrine

Some incidents in democracy can be truly  full of entertainment . 
Who can deny this ?

Indian leader of opposition  in this week , brought a  Brazilian model to drive  a point on Indian state election in Haryana conducted last year .

And this is what the  Brazilian model  said , after hearing the above :

"Oh my god, how crazy. What madness is this, what world are we living in,” 


Just saying !-

They came,  They saw, They conquered !

Pure ECSTASY.

Simply  Decisive !

CFOs have many stakeholders to manage , and what works with one stakeholder , may not work for other stakeholders . And all stakeholders have their own wish list: 

✅ CEO may be looking at Business Growth.
✅ Finance team may be looking at their own growth, and clear directives 
✅ Board may be debating risk with Growth
✅ External auditors may be interested in True and fair position,
✅ Banks and Investors are seeking their trust and confidence maintained in Business .
✅ Other Internal stake holders, SBU heads may be interested only if it is helping their SBU.

Now, here is the challenge- CFO cannot communicate with all the above stakeholders in the same language . If he speaks in the same language, he has lost the game in the first minute itself. 

It is hard to imagine CFO succeeding at the job , without mastering the art and science of Story telling ! 

 Let us look at fresh financing proposal with a bank, and what story telling CFO needs to do with the above stakeholders:

➡️ Finance Team- Great opportunity for us to get the deal done, learn and contribute to the business.

➡️ Board- We have tried many options and looked at Risk. This bank is well known and the financing structure suits our needs .

➡️ External auditors- Yes, IFRS accounting standards are important and of paramount importance - But here is the thing, -- We need to ensure correct financial ratios, strong balance sheet. Can we look at mid way solutions, which can help us in the bank financing ?

➡️ CEO- I know your growth plans , this financing proposal will help us reaching our growth with an accelerated speed.

➡️ Banks- What is company's growth vision and how the banks contribute to it ,and strong cash flow ensures bank commitments will be paid in time

& 

➡️ There may not be need to discuss this with other SBU heads , at this stage. 


One of the best ways to learn the art and science of story telling is to consider that every situation needs solutions and requires interaction with different stakeholders , and then you start working with each stakeholder to arrive at a solution in the language in which they understand... That is story telling. 

Share your stories- Both of success and failure !


#CFO
#Storytelling

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