Bhanuwati Citarasmi

Cita

Cita comes from a family deeply rooted in humility, learning, and community values. Her paternal grandfather was a pediatrician, a figure of compassion and dedication. On her mother’s side, her grandfather was a batik entrepreneur in Yogyakarta, remembered for his humility and generosity welcoming people into his home during Ramadan to share iftar together. Her grandmother is described as a woman of grace and humility, while her parents, both Economics graduates from Universitas Gadjah Mada, instilled in her the principles of hard work, focus, and continuous learning. As the second of three siblings, with her elder sister an architect and a photographer and her younger brother as corporate lawyer, Cita grew up surrounded by role models who valued education, perseverance, and purpose. These family legacies shaped her outlook on life and continue to inspire her leadership journey.

Cita’s educational journey reflects her deep commitment to learning and self-development. She pursued her studies across different countries, shaping her into a globally minded leader: European International University – Paris: Professional Doctorate in Management (2023), Southern New Hampshire University, USA: MBA in Business Administration and M.Sc. in Accounting, University of Oregon, USA: Bachelor of Science in Economics, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (ACMA, CGMA) (2020), Global Leadership Program at Macquarie University, Australia. For Cita, education has never been just about credentials, but about transformation. Each degree, certification, and program became a steppingstone that equipped her with resilience, global perspective, and strategic thinking—values she continues to apply in her leadership journey.

Cita has built a distinguished career of over two decades in finance and leadership across global healthcare companies. She currently serves as Director of Finance, Accounting & Supply Chain at Takeda (since 2023), after holding senior roles at Sanofi as CFO for Indonesia and later for Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and Myanmar, where she led major acquisitions, mergers, and regional transformations. Previously, she was Finance Director at PT Darya-Varia Laboratoria Tbk and spent more than a decade at Pfizer, where she held multiple strategic positions including Finance Director Indonesia and contributed to landmark M&A projects. Her early career included roles at Arthur Andersen and at Southern New Hampshire University in the U.S., experiences that laid the foundation for her global perspective and resilience as a leader.

While Cita does not currently own a company, she aspires to establish a management consulting and career coaching practice in the future. Driven by her passion for teaching, mentoring, and shaping young talents, she envisions creating a platform that empowers the next generation of professionals to grow with purpose, resilience, and confidence.

While Cita has not formally published books or academic papers, her creativity is reflected in how she designs practical tools that bring real impact. She finds joy in creating meaningful frameworks, such as developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in innovative formats, including AI-based solutions, to improve efficiency and empower teams. For her, creativity is not only about producing written works but about transforming ideas into actions that make a difference.

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Cita is actively engaged in the wider financial and leadership community. She has been a speaker at several CFO Conferences and an active member of the CFO Club Indonesia, where she shares her expertise and experiences to inspire peers and young professionals alike. For her, these activities are more than networking—they are opportunities to give back, contribute to the industry, and encourage the next generation of leaders to pursue excellence with integrity and empathy.

Cita is an active member of several professional networks that strengthen her leadership and industry influence. She holds the credential of Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (ACMA, CGMA), which reflects her commitment to strategic finance, governance, business leadership, ethical standards and driving organizational performance. She is also part of the CFO Club Indonesia, where she connects with peers to exchange insights and foster collaboration, and a member of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association, supporting the advancement of women leaders in the healthcare industry. For Cita, these memberships are not just affiliations, but platforms to share knowledge, empower others, and contribute to shaping a more inclusive and forward-looking business community.

Cita’s professional journey is marked by transformative milestones that demonstrate her strategic leadership and resilience. Among her most notable achievements are: leading organizational transformation at Pfizer, following the Warner-Lambert business merger; managing the Pharmacia-Upjohn acquisition as the Integration Finance Manager for Asia—covering a diverse region including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines; and overseeing the Pfizer CHC spin-off to Johnson & Johnson. She also played a key role in Indonesia in the Wyeth acquisition, driving business transformation across Pharma, Nutrition, and Animal Health. Between her roles at Pfizer and Sanofi, Cita brought her expertise to Darya-Varia Laboratoria, a publicly listed company, where she demonstrated a strong commitment to compliance and played a key role in developing SOPs and workflow approvals that supported operational excellence. At Sanofi Indonesia, she led the acquisition of the CHC Business from Boehringer-Ingelheim, significantly strengthening the company’s market presence. She has overseen complex legal entity mergers and cross-country restructuring across Southeast Asia, ensuring smooth integration and operational efficiency. Additionally, she has driven operational transformation in Sanofi’s Multi-Country Organization —covering Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Myanmar, championing simplification, efficiency, and a culture of continuous improvement. For Cita, these accomplishments represent more than just corporate milestones—they reflect her commitment to sustainable impact, the empowerment of teams, and her ability to lead organizations through change with both empathy and vision.

Cita is fluent in both Bahasa Indonesia and English, a skill set that has enabled her to navigate seamlessly across local and international environments.

Beyond her professional life, Cita enjoys activities that keep her balanced and inspired. She has a passion for photography, reading, and movies—especially drama and comedy. A true food enthusiast, she also loves exploring culinary experiences and rating different cuisines. For her, even simple hobbies like spending time at a coffee shop or immersing in creative pastimes are ways to recharge and stay grounded.

For Cita, the most meaningful milestones are not written on a résumé but etched in her heart. She believes deeply in the power of faith—many of her blessings, including the chance to study abroad, she considers as answers to prayers. A defining thread in her career at every company she has served—including Pfizer, Darya-Varia Laboratia Tbk, Sanofi and now Takeda. One pivotal moment was becoming the first Indonesian female expatriate CFO at Sanofi, a role that brought pride but also challenges—particularly when her son asked to return home to pursue his passion for swimming and represent Indonesia in competitions. Prioritizing family, she returned to Indonesia and was soon grateful for the opportunity to continue her leadership journey at Takeda. She treasures her husband, Ruben, a supportive husband, and their son, Dimas, as extraordinary gifts from God. To her, the true magic of life lies in this balance: achieving professional milestones while being surrounded by a loving and understanding family.

Outside of her professional responsibilities, Cita finds joy in simple human connections. She enjoys spending time with people—often through casual conversations over coffee—as a way to balance the intensity of her career. Beyond that, she embraces her most important role as a mother, ensuring she is always present for her son.

Cita believes her success is built on timeless principles: never being afraid to ask questions, cultivating resilience and discipline, always practicing empathy, and embracing continuous learning. For her, transformation is not a one-time achievement but an ongoing journey—one that requires courage to move forward, adaptability to change, and the humility to keep growing. These values have shaped her leadership and remain the foundation of her accomplishments.

www.linkedin.com/in/citarasmi-bhanuwati

Information available only in printed publication available in libraries.

Information available only in printed publication available in libraries.