RAI Retail CFO Summit 2025 Highlights Finance Leadership

The Retailers Association of India (RAI) hosted the Retail CFO Summit 2025 at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar on August 24, 2025. The prestigious summit brought together CFOs, CEOs, and senior finance leaders from the retail industry, centering on the theme: Beyond the Balance Sheet – The Evolving Role of the Retail CFO.

As the retail sector evolves rapidly, the CFO’s role is now crucial, emphasizing digital transformation, economic resilience, and sustainable growth. The summit united finance leaders, strategists, and innovators shaping the future of retail finance. Today’s CFOs go beyond traditional financial oversight to become strategic advisors, digital innovators, and influential voices within organizations.

The 2025 summit focused on guiding retail companies through AI integration, regulatory changes, and long-term value creation. Panels and discussions explored key topics such as Navigating Uncertainty, Building Resilient Retail Futures, Embedding AIoT Insights in Operations, Rewiring Finance for Digital Transformation, and Digitizing Compliance via GSTN Learnings.

Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, RAI - Retail CFO Summit

Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO of RAI, stated, “Retail CFOs today are strategists driving resilience and growth. The summit highlights how financial leaders integrate AI, digital tools, and data-driven insights, while navigating GST and compliance, shaping sustainable growth for retail.”

Speakers included Anuja Rastogi (Marks & Spencer), Karunakaran M (Shoppers Stop), Kaushal Parekh (Metro Brands), Murali Iyer (IKEA India), Pramod Dangaich (Infiniti Retail), Rajesh Annamalai (Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail), and Sameer Patel (Metropolis Healthcare).

Murali Iyer, CFO of IKEA India, emphasized, “The future of retail finance relies on resilience, technology, and keeping people at the heart of business, enabling value creation beyond the balance sheet.”

Siddarth Asrani, Director Finance at PUMA Sports India, added, “Retail finance now requires balancing agility and foresight. CFOs must forecast beyond traditional metrics, adapt to disruptions, and drive innovation while maintaining stability.”

RAI’s Retail CFO Summit continues to be a key platform for retail finance leaders, providing insights, discussing reforms, and sharing best practices for sustainable growth in the sector.