With Anurag Agrawal’s retirement, Venkatasubramanian Hariharan will be responsible for overseeing the immediate post-pandemic transition, as well as focus on long-term business recovery plans for Canon Middle East.
Canon Middle East (CME), a provider of imaging technologies and services has appointed Venkatasubramanian (Subbu) Hariharan as Managing Director, Canon Middle East and Turkey (CMET) effective from July 1, 2021. Former MD Anurag Agrawal has announced that he is retiring and moving back to Canada.
Hariharan has 27 years of industry experience, with 15 years of experience at Canon Middle East. He was previously the B2C Business Unit Director, where he was instrumental in securing a leadership position for CME across the GCC market through the successful channel and country expansions, streamlining operations to improve organisational effectiveness and implementing new business-focused approaches, to build up the company from a shipping company to the strong B2C organisation of today.
In his new role as Managing Director, Hariharan will oversee the immediate post-pandemic transition, business recovery plans and Canon Turkey integration, as well as focus on long-term goals of geographical expansion into key markets, driving the customer and people-focused agenda, product diversification and strengthened digital transformation, with a commitment to Canon’s philosophy of Kyosei: a dedication to working and living together for the common good.
Commenting on the new role, Venkatasubramanian (Subbu) Hariharan, said: “As we work to rebuild ties and reinvigorate the economy in a post-pandemic era, I am cognizant of the tremendous responsibility we have to our employees, partners and customers and the importance now, more than ever, of following the true spirit of the Kyosei philosophy. It’s a great privilege to have the opportunity to lead the CME team and I come into this role with a commitment and promise that we will continue to reimagine our business in ways that will always, best serve our customers.”
Anurag Agrawal, Managing Director of Canon, added: “After two decades at Canon, the decision to retire was not easy, but I wanted to spend more time with my family, and thus will be moving back to Canada. It has been an honour to see the growth and impact that we have had, from a small representative’s office on Sheikh Zayed road to becoming a leading player in the Middle East. I have no doubt that under Subbu’s leadership, Canon will go from strength to strength and he will craft a new path that will ensure a smooth post-Pandemic recovery and underscore our long-term customer-focused agenda.”
Agrawal has been Managing Director since 2010 and was instrumental in setting the roadmap for CME’s success within the GCC. He is credited with laying a solid business foundation and implementing key management practices that have paved the way for CME to move into the next phase of its development, including a direct presence in key markets and achieving closer customer engagement and retention.
