BS People: Rajan Anandan

Google and googlies

Rajan Anandan, the newly-appointed vice-president for India sales & operations at internet giant Google, is a high achiever with a sharp focus on targets. He oversaw the growth of PC manufacturer Dell’s India business from $200 million to over $800 million until he quit in 2008. During his subsequent stint at Microsoft India as MD, the company became the best performing large emerging market subsidiary for the Redmond (Washington)-based parent in 2009.

Those close to Anandan describe him as humane to the core and a person who can get along with anyone, anywhere. He loves spending time with his family and enjoys watching cricket and swimming. A swimmer himself, Anandan follows international championships closely, much the same way as he does cricket matches.

After over 20 years in the US, where he graduated from MIT and completed his post-graduation from Stanford, Anandan returned in April 2006 to head Dell India. He was one of the few executives in the firm to work directly with legendary Chairman Michael Dell as an executive assistant.

Despite a successful corporate life, Anandan has another interest — angel investment — which he carries out with his own money, both in the US and in India. Since his return, Anandan has invested in 17 early-phase technology companies in India, either alone or in partnership with the Indian Angel Network. Even during this short period, he has exited a few investments successfully.

Of late, Anandan has decided on Delhi to settle down, though he likes to be called a global citizen. “I intend to spend a lot of time in the US as well as in India,” he says.