CEO Insights Magazine

Finance is the life blood of a business and the lack of ample financial resources can adversely impact the operations of an organization. In the current corporate world, the importance of having an experienced and capable CFO (Chief Financial Officer) in order to ensure the proper use of finance in a company can't be stressed enough. Rajeev Kumar is an industry stalwart who holds the office of CFO at Dar Al Arkan which is a pioneering business organization that has been able to make impressive strides in the construction and real estate industry of KSA and UAE. In their rise to success for over two decades, the expertise and experience of industry veterans such as Rajeev has been crucial. He is committed to leverage his immense industry knowledge and finance wisdom to en-sure that Dar Al Arkan is financially equipped to break new business frontiers and strive for greater heights in the industry.

In an exclusive interview with CEO Insights Asia, Rajeev talks more about his professional journey and how he has been able to cement his legacy as a pioneering CFO.    

Can you talk more about your professional background?

I have nearly three decades of industry experience working both in the Indian and international market. Over the course of my career, I have been able to work on different levels in the finance segment which has given me a holistic experience. Some of the companies that I had worked for prior to joining Dar Al Arkan includes UltraTech Cement Limited, Jarir Marketing Co., Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair Co., Harley's Limited, Atlanta Limited and Ernst & Young to name a few. Owing to the diverse array of organizations I have been a part of, I have also been able to acquire domain expertise on multiple industry verticals which has helped me to be a versatile and dynamic CFO.

Give us a brief overview of Dar Al Arkan and its services 

Dar Al Arkan started its operations in 1994, with the primary motive to deliver top of the line real estate projects starting from the construction of a new home all the way to new property investments. In order to offer the complete array of comprehensive services to the clients, the company has created a diversified service portfolio that includes construction solutions and compass services. Under the construction solutions vertical, the company leverages the experience of industry veterans to build and deliver premium villas and town houses within a short period of time. Compass is Dar Al Arkan's project development consultancy business where the company offer specialized solutions in bespoke, turnkey projects. Here, Dar Al Arkan uses their network of trusted partners in order to be a one-stop solution provider for our clients.

Through these services, we aspire to realize our objective of helping every future homeowner or investor enjoy a contemporary lifestyle that matches their aspirations and success, as well as, develop and preserve their wealth for future generations.

How have you been able to mitigate the challenges that you faced in your journey?

I believe that challenges are part and parcel of holding a leadership position in an organization. I have never backed away from challenges or tough business decisions, rather, I view challenges as an opportunity for me to learn and grow. This mentality to learn and re-invent myself constantly has been a key driver in my growth in the industry as well.

Other than that, my expertise in finance and ac-counts, cost reductions, building strategic partner-ships, taxation, treasury management, auditing, and budgeting and forecasting allow me to be equipped with the needed skills required to thrive in the unforgiving and highly-competitive world of finance.

Can you explain your leadership style?

I believe that the employees of an organization are one of its biggest assets and acknowledging this, I have always prioritized on team building. I make sure that I am easily accessible to my team so that I can address their queries promptly. Other than that, I am also a democratic leader who is keen on creating a challenging yet motivating work environment for my team so that they can perform to their true potential consistently. All this has helped me to build and lead multiple successful teams from the ground up.

How do you keep yourself updated with the latest trends in the industry?

I am a passionate learner who is always open to learn new things and this is something that I instill in my team as well. And over the years, this unwavering passion to learn constantly has helped me to blaze my own path to sustained success in the industry. Other than that, over the last 28 years of my professional journey, I have been able to create a network of pioneering industry players and interacting with them on a regular basis allows me to stay up to date with the ever-changing landscape of the finance market.

Rajeev Kumar, CFO, Dar Al Arkan

Rajeev is a pioneering business leader and capable CFO who has been able to develop into a trail blazer in the industry owing to his passion for consistent improvement. Over the years, Rajeev has also been able to play an instrumental role in the success of the various organizations he has been a part of. With him at the helm of finances, Dar Al Arkan is aiming to expand their horizons and develop into even bigger entities in the corporate realm.