Hero MotoCorp Revamps Top Leadership — New CTO And New Emerging Mobility Business Head

oi-Rahul Jaswal

By Rahul Jaswal

Published: Tuesday, July 9, 2019, 18:24 [IST]

India's largest two wheeler manufacturer Hero MotoCorp started revamping it's leadership team on Monday. As part of this process, Hero MotoCorp has appointed Vikram Kasbekar as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), and Rajat Bhargava as the new head of the 'Emerging Mobility' Business Unit. Both Vikram and Rajat will continue to report to Pawan Munjal who is the Chairman of Hero MotoCorp.

Rajat currently heads Corporate Strategy & Performance Transformation for the comoany, and is also it's Head of Global Business. Hero MotoCorp created the 'Emerging Mobility' Business Unit in order to drive new mobility trends such as Electric Vehicles.

Vikram, who is currently the Executive Director - Operations (Plants) at Hero MotoCorp, will now be in-charge of the company's Research and Development (R&D) facilities - the Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT), Jaipur, the Hero Tech Centre Germany GmbH.

He replaces Markus Braunsperger, who is relocating to Europe after his five-year tenure. Markus, who was involved with CIT from the beginning, has been credited with shaping the research and development set-up at Hero MotoCorp with a global team of engineers and automotive experts.

Markus said, "As part of the Leadership Team at Hero, I have worked closely with Vikram over the past five years and truly believe that he is best suited to take over the reins at CIT. I thank our Chairman Pawan Munjal for giving me the opportunity to lead the R&D function at Hero."

"It was a unique opportunity for me to contribute to the world's largest two-wheeler company and I will always cherish these memories and my stay in India. I have now decided to move back to Europe to be there with my family. I wish the entire team at Hero MotoCorp the very best for the future," he added.

Under Markus, Hero MotoCorp successfully launched about 40 new models and variants including a series of premium two-wheelers, the XPulse range of motorcycles, and the Destini 125 and Maestro Edge 125 scooters.

He also helped the company transition from BS-III to BS-IV, and eventually to BS-VI, making Hero MotoCorp the first manufacturer in India to receive a BS-VI certification from the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT). He was also heavily involved in setting up the Hero Tech Centre Germany, and boosting Hero MotoSports.

Vikram, has been with Hero MotoCorp for over a 15 years now, and brings years of varied technology and engineering experience in both manufacturing & large-scale plant operations, and supply chain & new model development.

Vikram Kasbekar said,"Our R&D set-up has expanded and enhanced rapidly over the past few years and is now spread across multiple geographies. Through our robust and self-sufficient R&D ecosystem, we continue to develop technologies of the future."

"At our world-class facilities, a very capable team - comprising of engineers from India and across the world - is constantly engaged in designing and developing new products for millions of customers around the globe. I am deeply honored and excited to have been given this opportunity to lead the R&D team at the world's largest two-wheeler company," he added.

A process has already been initiated to identify a suitable candidate to be groomed to be the next CTO after Vikram finishes his tenure.

Thoughts About The Leadership Changes At Hero MotoCorp

Changes in leadership are bound to happen. They happen for one of two reasons - one, the current leaders finish their tenure and retire; and two, the company needs a new way forward. In the case of Hero MotoCorp, their leader finished his tenure. Only time will tell where the new lads take the company. Let's wait and watch. And all the best to Markus!