FEATURE: What does it take to revolutionize industries, inspire teams, and create a lasting legacy? Manoranjan (Mao) Mohapatra exemplifies the answer. With over four decades of unparalleled contributions to technology and telecommunications, Mao stands as a beacon of innovation and leadership. From crafting India’s first indigenous telecom innovations to steering Comviva to unparalleled global success, Mao’s journey encapsulates a story of vision, resilience, and transformational growth. His legacy is not just one of milestones achieved but of new horizons created for the world to follow.
Mao’s journey began with an engineering degree in Electrical and Electronics from the prestigious Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani. A promising young engineer, he started his professional voyage at the Center for Development of Telematics (CDOT), where he contributed to the development of India’s first indigenous telecom switch as part of the import substitution program. His role in managing the MAX product series significantly increased tele-density in India, a pivotal step in the nation’s technological advancement.
In 1992, Mao transitioned to Aricent Technologies, where he showcased his exceptional leadership abilities by growing the company from the ground up to a $500 million global product engineering powerhouse. As President and COO, Mao played a pivotal role in listing the company on the Indian stock market and orchestrating a landmark $1 billion exit to a leading private equity firm.
However, it was his tenure at Comviva Technologies that truly defined his career. Joining as CEO in 2007, Mao helmed the company’s transformation over 18 remarkable years. His visionary leadership steered Comviva from being a legacy VAS solution provider to becoming a global market leader in FinTech, MarTech, and DigiTech solutions. Under his guidance, Comviva expanded its footprint to over 100 countries, touching the lives of more than two billion mobile users worldwide.
Mao’s impact on Comviva was nothing short of revolutionary. He cultivated a culture of innovation and values while achieving exponential growth, increasing the company’s revenue by nine times and EBITDA by 16 times during his tenure. His focus on governance and shareholder value resulted in a return on capital employed (ROCE) improvement from 8% to an impressive 35%.
In addition to refining existing businesses, Mao had an innate knack for identifying and incubating new opportunities. He spearheaded the creation of three thriving business verticals in cross-border remittances, digital lending, and omni-channel marketing, two of which he successfully exited to marquee investors.
Mao’s contribution to the industry has not gone unnoticed. He has been recognized with several prestigious accolades, including the ‘Distinguished Fellow’ award by the Institute of Directors and being named among the “India’s Top 20 CEOs” by the Haryana IT, Telecom, and Enabled Industries Confederation (HITEC). In 2020-21, he was honored as one of The Economic Times’ most promising Business Leaders of Asia.
Today, as a Non-Executive Director at Comviva, Mao continues to influence the company’s strategic trajectory. His role focuses on providing advisory insights, conducting strategic risk assessments, and identifying growth opportunities. Even in this capacity, his dedication to innovation and excellence remains evident.
Mao’s career is a masterclass in transitioning from a technology expert to a business leader. His journey exemplifies how relentless dedication, a passion for innovation, and an eye for opportunity can transform not just businesses but industries. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mao’s legacy lies in his ability to mentor and inspire future leaders to dream big and achieve even bigger.
Manoranjan (Mao) Mohapatra’s story is not just one of success but also one of transformation—of companies, industries, and countless lives across the globe. As the technology landscape continues to evolve, his contributions will undoubtedly continue to serve as a guiding beacon for leaders worldwide.