Raju is a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, fellow member of Association of International Accountants (FAIA), UK and Certified Public Accountant (CPA) from USA.
His initiatives in creating businesses across the globe and nurturing these businesses through Indian talent have been recognized by various bodies and forums. The views of Raju Menon are sought by media on important economic developments in the region.
One can undoubtedly say Kreston Menon’s journey under the leadership of Raju Menon was a remarkable one – From a 3 member practice 28 years back, to one of the leading Auditing and Consulting firm, employing more than 550 professionals.
Raju is married to Girija, who is also a Chartered Accountant, and they have 3 kids.
In Dubai, Menon worked with a small audit firm as manager for 2 years. In 1994, Raju Menon decided to spread his wings and ventured out on his own, laying the foundation stones of what eventually became Kreston Menon.
Menon entered into a strategic partnership with Kreston Global, in 2018. The affiliation not only lent global perspective to the firm, but also a momentum ensuring a wider outreach.
Today, with more than 300 professionals, Kreston Menon is one of the leading Audit and Business Consulting firms in the region
Raju Menon’s outlook towards life and work can be captured in a few simple words: diligence, professionalism, integrity, compassion and service. Every decision and action of Menon is guided by these principles, and the exemplary success he has achieved is certainly proof enough that he has chosen the right path.
Menon imbibed his life philosophy from his mother Susheela a midwife whose waking hours were spent assisting childbirths in and around Cheekilode, a village in Kerala’s Kozhikode district. He grew up watching his mother spend more than 14 hours at a time helping a new mother and child adapt to the situation. Her selfless service and compassion made a deep impact on young Menon who rightly concluded that the ultimate aim of a human being is to be of service to others.
Born in a lower middle class family in Kodungalloor, Kerala, Menon was the third son in a family of four children. His father Madhava Menon was a construction steel work supervisor. Married to Girija who is also a Chartered Accountant helping him in the profession as Partner, the couple has three sons.
Menon’s primary and secondary education was completed in humble government institutions in Kozhikode. After obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce in 1982 and Masters in Commerce in 1984 , he went on to acquire the elusive and coveted Chartered Accountancy certification. Menon trained with leading chartered accountant firms in India for four years, after which he moved to Dubai, UAE in 1992. A lifelong learner and a versatile genius, he continued piling up further qualifications including LLB, CPA from USA and FAIA from UK, adding to his impressive and burgeoning portfolio.
The Menons are hugely concerned with the rehabilitation of displaced children, or ‘street kids’, as generally termed, and the elderly who have been abandoned by their families. To this end, they have been supporting a home for the aged as well as a school for differently-abled children, besides offering scholarships to deserving students from deprived/destitute families.
In 2004 they formalized their work by establishing the ‘CA Girija and CA Raju Menon Foundation’ in Kerala. Aimed at providing multi-pronged support to the under privileged section of the society, the Foundation is a tribute to the legacy of service that was left behind by Raju Menon’s mother.
Menon staunchly believes that providing financial support alone is not enough: neither does it ensure a person their right to a life of dignity, nor is it sustainable in the long run. Mindful of this fact, the Foundation facilitates the transition of these battered human beings into productive members of the society by helping them earn a livelihood.
Raju Menon has helped promote the cause of India and Indians in particular in the UAE through his highly acclaimed firm Kreston Menon Chartered Accountants. A significant achievement of Raju Menon was that he was able to bring about a paradigm shift in the mindset of the UAE government entities and local companies, about the professional competence of Indian talent, long before India began to be recognized as a global Information Technology power house.
He has always promoted India as the preferred Investment destination and has been a vocal supporter of the recent investor friendly policies of the Government of India. He has never failed to support the cause of Indian Diaspora and his efforts in conceiving lasting solutions for the under privileged sections back in Kerala, has been applauded.
The CA Girija and CA Raju Menon Foundation set by Raju Menon at Kozhikode, Kerala is actively involved in providing support to the old people as well as to children with special needs, besides promoting causes such as women empowerment and recognizing talented youth.
