Renuka Jagtiani: The Visionary Behind Landmark Group’s Success

In the global retail landscape, few leaders have redefined success as remarkably as Renuka Jagtiani, the driving force behind the Landmark Group. From her early days in India to leading one of the Middle East’s largest retail and hospitality conglomerates, Renuka’s journey is a masterclass in strategic thinking, adaptability, and purpose-driven leadership.

What makes her story exceptional is not just the scale of business she manages but the vision with which she transformed a single-store venture into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise spanning over 20 countries. Under her leadership, the Landmark Group has evolved from a regional retailer into a globally recognized brand synonymous with innovation, inclusivity, and sustainable growth.

This article explores Renuka Jagtiani’s leadership journey, her business philosophy, and the strategic pillars that built Landmark Group’s enduring success, offering valuable lessons for aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs.

Early Life and Background of Renuka Jagtiani

Renuka Jagtiani was born and raised in India, and she possessed an ambitious nature and strong interest in the world of business. After finishing her studies, she moved to Dubai to be with her then boyfriend and later husband, Micky Jagtiani, who was the founder of the Landmark Group. 

In the beginning, Renuka was a backstage support to the business while she learned about the details of retailing. However, soon enough, when her interest and her strategic mind took charge, she began to take control of the business. With her initial experience of learning her trade in the stores, understanding customer behavior, and researching new markets, she certainly got off to an excellent start for expanding the business.

The Inception and Development of Landmark Group

Source: startupopinions

From a Store to a Multinational Corporation

Landmark Group is a company that originated in 1973 from a single Babyshop store in Bahrain, founded by Micky Jagtiani. What began as a small retail shop expanded into one of the world’s most diversified retail and hospitality groups under Renuka Jagtiani’s leadership.

Today, Landmark Group has over 2,200 stores in more than 20 countries and employs more than 48,000 people. The group has a portfolio that covers the fashion, electronics, home improvement, beauty, wellness, and hospitality sectors of the market.

The Leadership Journey of Renuka Jagtiani

When Micky Jagtiani passed away, Renuka Jagtiani became Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of the Landmark Group. Her leadership approach emphasizes innovation, inclusion, and a long-term approach to ensure the group can adapt to the evolving retail environment. 

Key Highlights of Her Leadership

Renuka’s ability to marry a traditional retail philosophy with the digital revolution has been integral to the continued success of Landmark. As an advocate for female leadership, sustainability, and a culture of innovation.

Landmark Group’s Major Brands and Businesses

Under Renuka’s guidance, the Landmark Group diversified into multiple brands catering to different customer needs.

Flagship Brands Under Landmark Group

Each brand represents a strategic response to regional consumer needs, allowing the group to stay relevant and competitive across diverse markets.

The Vision and Strategy for Landmark Group’s Success

1. Customer Centricity: Renuka believes in completely understanding customer needs and providing affordable quality. The Large Group’s philosophy, ‘Creating exceptional value for all,’ reflects her belief in customer satisfaction. 

2. Digital Transformation: As a leader, Landmark Group has invested heavily in e-commerce platforms, AI-assisted inventory systems, and data analysis to create better customer experiences. The Landmark Rewards app has millions of active users, demonstrating its support for adopting technology. 

3. Support for Female Leadership: As one of the most successful women entrepreneurs in the Middle East, Renuka encourages gender parity and diversity in leadership positions, with several senior positions occupied by women.

4. Sustainable and Responsible Growth: Renuka has spearheaded initiatives that align with sustainability, including building responsibly sourced product lines, reducing waste and unneeded purchases, and creating energy-independent stores. Linking business success with taking care of the planet, the sustainability initiatives have also been profit-producing.

Awards and Recognition

Renuka Jagtiani’s contributions to business and leadership have earned her numerous accolades globally.

Notable Achievements

• Featured in Forbes Middle East’s Top 100 Businesswomen
• Named among the Most Powerful Women in Retail
• Received RetailME ICONS Leadership Award (2023)
• Recognized for advancing female leadership in business across the GCC

Her recognition reflects not just financial success but also her impact on transformative leadership in global retail.

The Landmark Group’s Financial and Global Footprint

Key Statistics (2025)

The Group continues to expand into emerging markets and digital-first ecosystems, ensuring that it remains future-ready in the evolving retail world.

Challenges and How Renuka Overcame Them

Despite attaining great success, Landmark Group continued to encounter several challenges, including market saturation, economic cycles, and the pandemic.

Renuka facilitated these challenges through a foundation on adaptability and resilience:

• Digital-first retail transformation to tackle pandemic disruptions
• Diversification across industries to reduce business risk
• Restructuring the supply chain to be more efficient and agile
• Empowering every level of employee to feel a sense of ownership and discover what works

Renuka’s calm demeanor and analytical thinking aided Landmark in navigating uncertainty and coming out stronger than ever.

Impact on Women Entrepreneurship

Renuka Jagtiani has become a symbol of women’s empowerment in business. By leading one of the largest conglomerates in a traditionally male-dominated region, she has broken barriers and inspired many. Her journey reinforces the idea that strong leadership knows no gender, only vision, determination, and compassion.

Conclusion

Renuka Jagtiani’s journey with Landmark Group stands as a testament to the power of vision, discipline, and empathy in leadership. Her ability to blend business growth with social impact has not only strengthened the company’s global standing but also redefined what modern leadership looks like in today’s competitive world.

Through innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability, she has created a business legacy that transcends profit one built on people, purpose, and progress. As the Landmark Group continues to expand across regions and industries, Renuka’s story reminds us that true leadership is not about titles or milestones, but about transforming challenges into opportunities and empowering others to rise.

FAQs

Q1. Who is Renuka Jagtiani?
Renuka Jagtiani is Chairwoman and CEO of Landmark Group, a multinational conglomerate specializing in retail and hospitality operations based in Dubai, UAE.

Q2. What is Landmark Group’s reputation?
The group is known for retail brands like Max Fashion, Lifestyle, Home Centre, Splash, and Citymax Hotels.

Q3. Where is Landmark Group operational?
The company operates in over 20 countries, including India, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.

Q4. Why is Renuka Jagtiani an inspiring leader?
Her strategic visioning, focus on digital transformation, and commitment to women’s empowerment have changed the definition of leadership globally in the retail business.

Q5. What is Landmark Group valued at?
As of 2025, Landmark Group has a valuation of over USD 7 billion, making it one of the largest privately owned retail organizations in the area.