Anubhav Jain : Leading Growth & Transformation At The Intersection Of Design & Technology
Anubhav Jain
CEO & Managing Director
Over the decades, IIT Bombay’s alumni network has emerged as a powerful global community. Alumni leaders from IIT Bombay have gone on to redefine consulting, entrepreneurship, manufacturing, analytics, and technology, carrying forward the institute’s ethos of excellence, resilience, and impact.
Their journeys reflect a unique blend of intellectual depth and executional strength - qualities deeply ingrained during their formative years at the institute.
Among these distinguished alumni is Anubhav Jain, CEO & Managing Director, Hunter Douglas South Asia, whose professional journey exemplifies the IIT Bombay spirit.
Anubhav began his career after completing his engineering at IIT Bombay, where his curiosity and analytical mindset took early shape. He went on to spend three years at Fractal Analytics as a Project Leader, working on diverse, high-impact projects across geographies and industries.
During this time, he also pursued passion-driven analytics projects, including predictive models for Men’s ODI World Cup matches work that gained national attention and was featured in publications such as The Times of India and DNA, and aired on ESPN and CNN.
Building on this strong foundation, Anubhav pursued an MBA at IIM Calcutta before joining The Boston Consulting Group (BCG). His 13-year journey at BCG was marked by rapid growth, progressing from Associate to Managing Director within 8.5 years.
At BCG, he worked across continents and sectors on complex C-suite and board mandates, including around distressed assets, running multi-year cost transformations that generated over $1B in EBITDA, redesigning complex supply chains for efficiency and customer-centric results, launching a consumer brand in rural areas, designing strategic growth roadmaps, and supporting various M&A and spin-off transactions amongst others.
BCG helped him further deepen his ability to break down large & complex problems, identify the core 'so-what', and drive solutions that generate lasting impact.
Today, as CEO & Managing Director of Hunter Douglas in South Asia, Anubhav Jain is Walking the talk,” leading the business through accelerated growth and transformation.
Known for thriving in challenging environments, he brings his best to difficult problems, doing what others find hard and continues to push boundaries as this next chapter of his leadership journey unfolds.
As an alumnus from IIT Bombay, what have been the most transformative learning experiences during your time there?
There is a saying that the world is an oyster, and for me, IIT Bombay truly offered the world within that oyster. For the first time, I was surrounded by people who seemed better than me at almost everything - academics, sports, arts, leadership, entrepre - neurship, and organizing.
It was my first real encounter with the level of competition and excellence the world would demand after graduation. Being in such an evolved and competitive environment pushed me to continuously raise my own bar.
IIT Bombay helped me build practical skills, lifelong friendships, and the confidence to step into unfamiliar situations. It taught me to bring the best of myself to any challenge, work with the resources available, and commit fully to the objective. Most importantly, it reinforced that real learning happens by doing.
Whether it was leading our hostel hockey team, being part of the institute placement committee, participating in arts and dance teams, organizing a large shark-tank type startup competition that produced real entrepreneurs, or even losing hostel elections, each experience shaped me. Collectively, those four years laid the foundation for how I approach leadership, challenges, and growth even today.
How are you driving innovation in this industry?
Innovation in the ceiling, façade, and blinds industry is fast-paced and relent less. Design trends evolve quickly, products are easily replicated, and staying relevant requires being consistently ahead of the curve.
At Hunter Douglas, innovation and quality are deeply embedded in our DNA. Globally, we are known for taking on design and engineering-led projects that others often shy away from, and that continuously raises the bar for us.
I view innovation across multiple dimensions. Design is only one aspect; material innovation, application innovation, functional innovation and even business model innovation that delivers tangible advantages to clients are equally critical.
Hunter Douglas has been pioneering innovation for over a century, few people know that we invented the continuous coating line back in the 1930s. Even today, we continue to innovate in machinery and manufacturing processes worldwide.
For example, while the market largely uses PET panels, we developed non-PET acoustic panels called Heart Felt, which offer superior acoustics along with better durability, thermal performance, and water resistance.
We are curating targeted solutions for sectors such as data centers, where energy efficiency is paramount, or hospitals, where maintaining microbe free environments is critical.
On the design and material front, we are continuously evolving with kinetics through design and automation that harness solar and wind energy. We are also developing façade materials that are anti graffiti, scratch and dent-resistant for public spaces.
In our window solutions portfolio, we have also launched a direct-to-consumer brand, Hillarys, bringing the Hunter Douglas product range and service experience directly to customers.
Describe your leadership style. What are the guidelines or methodologies you follow as a leader?
My leadership style is intentionally simple and grounded. It is built on clarity of direction, setting a high bar, and ensuring that growth is inclusive for everyone on the journey.
I place the team at the center of everything I do. When the vision is clear and consistently shared, people know exactly what they are working toward and why it matters.
I believe roles and expectations must be well defined so that each team member understands how they contribute to collective progress. At the same time, I lead with empathy and honesty, being open about what is working, what is not, and how we can support one another better. Without trust and transparency, meaningful progress is not possible.
Challenges, setbacks, and external disruptions are inevitable. What keeps us on course during such moments is clarity of purpose, strong conviction, and a committed team working together. When these elements come together, teams not only navigate uncertainty but emerge stronger and more aligned.
How do you keep yourself up to date with on-going industry trends to steer your organization towards the future?
Staying current with industry trends, and ideally staying ahead
For me, raising the bar is largely industry-agnostic, clients and competitors are the best teachers, and they help me continuously sharpen direction and rele- vance
How are you driving innovation in this industry?
Innovation in the ceiling, façade, and blinds industry is fast-paced and relent less. Design trends evolve quickly, products are easily replicated, and staying relevant requires being consistently ahead of the curve.
At Hunter Douglas, innovation and quality are deeply embedded in our DNA. Globally, we are known for taking on design and engineering-led projects that others often shy away from, and that continuously raises the bar for us.
I view innovation across multiple dimensions. Design is only one aspect; material innovation, application innovation, functional innovation and even business model innovation that delivers tangible advantages to clients are equally critical.
Hunter Douglas has been pioneering innovation for over a century, few people know that we invented the continuous coating line back in the 1930s. Even today, we continue to innovate in machinery and manufacturing processes worldwide.
For example, while the market largely uses PET panels, we developed non-PET acoustic panels called Heart Felt, which offer superior acoustics along with better durability, thermal performance, and water resistance.
We are curating targeted solutions for sectors such as data centers, where energy efficiency is paramount, or hospitals, where maintaining microbe free environments is critical.
On the design and material front, we are continuously evolving with kinetics through design and automation that harness solar and wind energy. We are also developing façade materials that are anti graffiti, scratch and dent-resistant for public spaces.
In our window solutions portfolio, we have also launched a direct-to-consumer brand, Hillarys, bringing the Hunter Douglas product range and service experience directly to customers.
Describe your leadership style. What are the guidelines or methodologies you follow as a leader?
My leadership style is intentionally simple and grounded. It is built on clarity of direction, setting a high bar, and ensuring that growth is inclusive for everyone on the journey.
I place the team at the center of everything I do. When the vision is clear and consistently shared, people know exactly what they are working toward and why it matters.
I believe roles and expectations must be well defined so that each team member understands how they contribute to collective progress. At the same time, I lead with empathy and honesty, being open about what is working, what is not, and how we can support one another better. Without trust and transparency, meaningful progress is not possible.
Challenges, setbacks, and external disruptions are inevitable. What keeps us on course during such moments is clarity of purpose, strong conviction, and a committed team working together. When these elements come together, teams not only navigate uncertainty but emerge stronger and more aligned.
How do you keep yourself up to date with on-going industry trends to steer your organization towards the future?
Staying current with industry trends, and ideally staying ahead
of them, is one of the toughest parts of my role. What works best for me is staying very close to clients and having honest conversations with them.
I actively ask what competitors are doing better, what is their wish list and beyond products, how we can serve them better.
These insights often go beyond our own industry. For me, raising the bar is largely industry agnostic, clients and competitors are the best teachers and they help me continuously sharpen direction and relevance.
What is the future destination you are heading towards?
At Hunter Douglas, our future destination is very clear and sharply defined. We aim to serve the Indian market with truly best-in-class products and services while building a business that reflects the full strength of our global capabilities.
Our ambition is to claim our rightful market position by consistently overdelivering value to our customers.
We have set a bold yet focused goal of growing the business five-fold over the next five years organically, and we are already well on track.
This journey is about disciplined execution, sustained innovation, and long-term impact.
Why do you think Hunter Douglas is well positioned to win in this market?
I believe Hunter Douglas is exceptionally well positioned because of a powerful combination of factors we have built over the last three decades in India.
We have established a strong, customer-centric brand anchored in quality and trust.
This foundation, coupled with a highly capable talent pool deep market relationships, and robust manufacturing capabilities, gives us a unique competitive advantage.
What excites me most is the opportunity ahead. It is now about fully unleashing our potential and thinking boldly.
We are actively expanding our product portfolio in India scaling our manufacturing footprint, strengthening our channel partner network, and investing in our teams.
This enables us to work closely with clients and architects, not just as suppliers, but as true partners in bringing their ambitious design visions to life.
Based on your experience in the industry, what advice would you give to aspiring leaders in the field?
My advice to aspiring leaders is to think big and aim high, but equally to focus on building committed and capable teams to turn those ambitions into reality.
Great companies are never built by individuals alone; they are built by investing consistently in people and capabilities.
When you nurture the right talent and create a strong sense of shared purpose, even the most ambitious goals become achievable. I firmly believe that success comes from committing deeply to a clear dream and then executing the simple fundamentals, day after day, with discipline and consistency.
Anubhav Jain, CEO & Managing Director, Hunter Douglas
Anubhav Jain is the CEO & Managing Director of Hunter Douglas South Asia. An IIT Bombay and IIM Calcutta alumnus, he has over a decade of leadership experience across analytics, consulting, and manufacturing, including a 13-year career at BCG, where he rose to Managing Director & Partner rank
More about Anubhav
•Hobbies: Spending time with my daughter, scuba, and any racquet sport
•Favorite Cuisine: Italian, Rajasthani
•Favorite Book: The boy, the fox, the mole, and the horse
•Favorite Travel Destination: Italy
Rewards & Recognitions:
•Top 5 ‘Rising Personality.
•’Recognition by the Rajasthan govt; Medals across multiple Olympiads
•Multiple at BCG: Rookie of the year, Exceptional client service awards, Multiple gold medals for delivering the most impactful client work across BCG globally and more
I actively ask what competitors are doing better, what is their wish list and beyond products, how we can serve them better.
These insights often go beyond our own industry. For me, raising the bar is largely industry agnostic, clients and competitors are the best teachers and they help me continuously sharpen direction and relevance.
What is the future destination you are heading towards?
At Hunter Douglas, our future destination is very clear and sharply defined. We aim to serve the Indian market with truly best-in-class products and services while building a business that reflects the full strength of our global capabilities.
Our ambition is to claim our rightful market position by consistently overdelivering value to our customers.
We have set a bold yet focused goal of growing the business five-fold over the next five years organically, and we are already well on track.
This journey is about disciplined execution, sustained innovation, and long-term impact.
Why do you think Hunter Douglas is well positioned to win in this market?
I believe Hunter Douglas is exceptionally well positioned because of a powerful combination of factors we have built over the last three decades in India.
We have established a strong, customer-centric brand anchored in quality and trust.
This foundation, coupled with a highly capable talent pool deep market relationships, and robust manufacturing capabilities, gives us a unique competitive advantage.
What excites me most is the opportunity ahead. It is now about fully unleashing our potential and thinking boldly.
We are actively expanding our product portfolio in India scaling our manufacturing footprint, strengthening our channel partner network, and investing in our teams.
This enables us to work closely with clients and architects, not just as suppliers, but as true partners in bringing their ambitious design visions to life.
Based on your experience in the industry, what advice would you give to aspiring leaders in the field?
My advice to aspiring leaders is to think big and aim high, but equally to focus on building committed and capable teams to turn those ambitions into reality.
Great companies are never built by individuals alone; they are built by investing consistently in people and capabilities.
When you nurture the right talent and create a strong sense of shared purpose, even the most ambitious goals become achievable. I firmly believe that success comes from committing deeply to a clear dream and then executing the simple fundamentals, day after day, with discipline and consistency.
Anubhav Jain, CEO & Managing Director, Hunter Douglas
Anubhav Jain is the CEO & Managing Director of Hunter Douglas South Asia. An IIT Bombay and IIM Calcutta alumnus, he has over a decade of leadership experience across analytics, consulting, and manufacturing, including a 13-year career at BCG, where he rose to Managing Director & Partner rank
More about Anubhav
•Hobbies: Spending time with my daughter, scuba, and any racquet sport
•Favorite Cuisine: Italian, Rajasthani
•Favorite Book: The boy, the fox, the mole, and the horse
•Favorite Travel Destination: Italy
Rewards & Recognitions:
•Top 5 ‘Rising Personality.
•’Recognition by the Rajasthan govt; Medals across multiple Olympiads
•Multiple at BCG: Rookie of the year, Exceptional client service awards, Multiple gold medals for delivering the most impactful client work across BCG globally and more