Francisco Hidalgo Marques is a senior automotive executive with extensive global experience in sales, marketing, and business strategy within the Renault Group. With over two decades in the automotive industry, he has built a strong reputation for leading transformation, brand positioning, and market expansion across international markets.

Francisco Hidalgo Marques has been associated with Renault since the early 2000s, holding multiple leadership roles across Europe, Russia, and Asia. His experience spans planning, forecasting, communication, and commercial operations, reflecting a well-rounded leadership profile. Continue reading “Francisco Hidalgo Marques”

Stéphane Deblaise is a senior global automotive executive with over two decades of experience at Renault Group, known for his expertise in engineering, product development, and international business leadership. He has held key roles across Europe, Asia, and Latin America, contributing to large-scale automotive programs and strategic transformation initiatives.

Stéphane Deblaise joined Renault Group in 2000 as an advanced process engineer and progressed through multiple leadership positions, including vehicle engineering, product planning, and program management roles in France, Brazil, and China.

He later served as CEO of Renault Korea, where he led significant transformation initiatives, positioning the region as a global hub for development and production of mid- and large-sized vehicles, while modernizing manufacturing for multi-energy platforms. Continue reading “Stéphane Deblaise”

Udit Malhotra is an accomplished marketing leader in India’s automotive industry, recognized for driving brand transformation, digital innovation, and customer-centric marketing strategies. With over 15 years of experience, he has built expertise across integrated marketing, product communication, and digital ecosystems.

Udit Malhotra plays a key role in shaping marketing strategy at JSW MG Motor India, where he oversees brand positioning, campaign execution, and digital-first initiatives. His leadership has contributed to building MG Motor as a technology-driven and innovation-led automotive brand in India. Continue reading “Udit Malhotra”

Neha Jain is a dynamic leader in India’s electric mobility ecosystem, known for driving innovation, partnerships, and sustainable growth within the automotive sector. With over 15 years of experience, she has built strong expertise in electric vehicles (EVs), charging infrastructure, and innovation-led business transformation.

Neha Jain leads the EV and Innovation Ecosystem at JSW MG Motor India, where she works closely with government bodies, startups, technology partners, and industry stakeholders to accelerate EV adoption in India. Her role focuses on building collaborative ecosystems, expanding charging infrastructure, and promoting sustainable mobility solutions. Continue reading “Neha Jain”

Piyush Arora is a senior automotive industry leader known for his extensive experience in manufacturing, operations, and business leadership within global automobile companies.

With over three decades of experience, he has played a key role in shaping production strategy, localization, and operational excellence in India’s automotive sector.

Piyush Arora leads Škoda Auto Volkswagen India, overseeing multiple brands and driving the group’s strategic vision in one of its most important growth markets. His leadership focuses on strengthening manufacturing capabilities, enhancing localization under the “Make in India” initiative, and delivering globally competitive products tailored for Indian consumers. Continue reading “Piyush Arora”

Vikrant Rana is a leading intellectual property (IP) attorney in India and the Managing Partner at S.S. Rana & Co., a reputed full-service law firm. With nearly three decades of experience, he has built a strong reputation in patent law, trademark litigation, and IP enforcement across diverse industries.

Vikrant Rana is an Advocate-on-Record at the Supreme Court of India and a registered patent agent, representing clients before the Supreme Court, High Courts, and IP authorities. His work spans patents, trademarks, copyrights, licensing, and dispute resolution, making him a trusted advisor for complex legal matters. Continue reading “Vikrant Rana”

Prasan Firodia is a forward-thinking business leader representing the new generation at the helm of the Dr. Abhay Firodia Group of Companies, one of India’s established industrial houses with a strong presence in automotive manufacturing and engineering.

Prasan Firodia serves as Managing Director of Force Motors, a leading Indian automotive company known for commercial vehicles, engineering capabilities, and global partnerships with brands such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Continue reading “Prasan Firodia”

Sakshi Vij is an entrepreneur and business leader in India’s mobility and transportation sector, known for her contributions to shared mobility and car subscription services. With strong expertise in travel, fleet management, and automotive solutions, she has played a key role in transforming how individuals and businesses access vehicles.

Sakshi Vij is associated with Carzonrent India Pvt. Ltd. and is the founder of Myles Cars, a platform that focuses on flexible vehicle usage models such as subscriptions and self-drive rentals. Her work has contributed to the growth of Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) solutions in India, offering alternatives to traditional car ownership. Continue reading “Sakshi Vij”

Kumar Priyesh is a senior leader in India’s automotive industry, known for his expertise in sales, marketing, and brand leadership across leading passenger vehicle companies. With over two decades of experience, he has played a significant role in driving business growth, network expansion, and customer-centric strategies.

Kumar Priyesh holds a leadership position at Stellantis India as Business Head and Director – Automotive Brands, where he oversees operations for brands such as Jeep, Citroën, and Leapmotor in the Indian market. Continue reading “Kumar Priyesh”

Vinod Aggarwal is a highly respected leader in India’s commercial vehicle industry, known for his long-standing contribution to automotive manufacturing, strategy, and business leadership. With over four decades of experience, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the growth of Eicher Motors and VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), a joint venture between Eicher Motors and Volvo Group.

Vinod Aggarwal has led VECV for nearly two decades as Managing Director and CEO, driving strong business expansion, product innovation, and market competitiveness. Under his leadership, the organization strengthened its position as a key player in India’s commercial vehicle segment and expanded into global markets. Continue reading “Vinod Aggarwal”

Anish Shah is a leading Indian business executive, known for his role in driving strategic growth and transformation at the Mahindra Group, one of India’s largest multinational conglomerates. With a strong background in finance, strategy, and global business operations, he has played a key role in shaping the group’s long-term vision and performance.

Anish Shah joined the Mahindra Group in 2014 as Group President (Strategy), where he worked closely across businesses to build capabilities in digital transformation, data sciences, and organizational synergy. His leadership has contributed to strengthening operational efficiency and aligning diverse business verticals under a unified growth strategy. Continue reading “Anish Shah”

Vinnie Mehta is a prominent figure in India’s automotive ecosystem, known for leadership in policy advocacy, industry development, and global collaboration within the auto component sector. As Director General of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), he plays a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of one of the country’s most influential industry bodies.

With decades of experience spanning technology management, international trade, and industry representation, Vinnie Mehta has been instrumental in strengthening India’s position in the global automotive supply chain. His leadership focuses on advancing localization, enhancing competitiveness, and promoting sustainable growth across the auto component industry. Continue reading “Vinnie Mehta”

Shailesh Hazela is a seasoned business leader with extensive experience across the automotive, telecommunications, and industrial sectors. Known for his strategic expertise in supply chain management, procurement, and business transformation, Shailesh Hazela has played a key role in driving operational excellence and growth across global organizations.

With over 28 years of professional experience, Shailesh Hazela has held leadership positions at reputed companies including Stellantis, Cummins, General Motors, Airtel, and Alstom. His cross-industry exposure has enabled him to build strong capabilities in global sourcing, manufacturing ecosystems, and large-scale operations management. Continue reading “Shailesh Hazela”

Sheel Sagar is a seasoned automotive industry leader with over two decades of experience across leading passenger vehicle brands in India. Known for his expertise in sales leadership, marketing strategy, and network expansion, Sheel Sagar has built a strong track record of driving business growth and brand performance in competitive markets.

With a career spanning reputed organizations such as Volkswagen India, Kia Motors, and Tata Motors, Sheel Sagar has developed deep domain expertise in sales operations, customer engagement, and market development. His leadership approach focuses on aligning business strategy with evolving consumer expectations and industry trends. Continue reading “Sheel Sagar”

Nirmal Kumar Minda is a distinguished leader in India’s auto component industry, widely recognized for shaping the automotive supply chain over the past five decades. Nirmal Kumar Minda has played a transformative role in building Uno Minda Group into a global automotive components conglomerate with a diversified portfolio spanning 28 product lines, operations across multiple countries, and a strong manufacturing footprint.

Under the leadership of Nirmal Kumar Minda, the organization has scaled significantly, with a focus on innovation-driven growth, customer-centric strategies, and a people-first culture. He has consistently emphasized research and development, enabling the group to stay ahead of evolving industry trends and technological advancements. Continue reading “Nirmal Kumar Minda”

Yash Pal Sachar is a seasoned leader in India’s automotive and corporate affairs landscape, known for his extensive expertise in government relations, policy advocacy, and strategic communications. With over three decades of experience, Yash Pal Sachar has built a strong reputation for aligning business objectives with regulatory frameworks and industry priorities.

Yash Pal Sachar holds a leadership role at Ashok Leyland, where he drives corporate affairs initiatives, stakeholder engagement, and public policy strategy. His work focuses on strengthening industry-government collaboration and supporting the growth of India’s commercial vehicle and mobility ecosystem. Continue reading “Yash Pal Sachar”

Girish Wagh is a highly respected leader in India’s automotive industry, known for his contributions to commercial vehicles, product innovation, and large-scale mobility solutions at Tata Motors. With over three decades of experience, Girish Wagh has played a significant role in shaping India’s transportation ecosystem through engineering excellence and strategic leadership.

Girish Wagh began his journey with Tata Motors in 1992 as a Graduate Engineer Trainee and steadily rose through leadership roles across both passenger and commercial vehicle businesses. His career reflects deep expertise in product development, program management, and business transformation within one of India’s largest automotive companies. Continue reading “Girish Wagh”

Shailesh Chandra is a prominent leader in India’s automotive industry, known for his strategic leadership in passenger vehicles and electric mobility at Tata Motors. With decades of experience within the Tata Group, Shailesh Chandra has played a transformative role in driving innovation, business growth, and sustainable mobility solutions.

Shailesh Chandra began his journey with Tata Motors in 1995 and has held diverse leadership roles across production, strategy, and business transformation. Over the years, Shailesh Chandra has contributed significantly to strengthening Tata Motors’ market position and operational excellence across the passenger vehicle segment. Continue reading “Shailesh Chandra”

Kunal Behl is a distinguished leader in India’s automotive sector, known for his strategic contributions to sales, marketing, and network development at Honda Cars India Ltd. With over two decades of experience, he has played a key role in strengthening brand positioning, expanding dealer networks, and improving customer engagement across competitive markets.

With a long-standing association with Honda since 2002, Kunal Behl has led multiple high-impact functions across sales operations, marketing strategy, and distribution planning. His leadership has contributed to consistent business growth and successful product launches in India’s passenger vehicle segment. Continue reading “Kunal Behl”

Ganesh Mani S is a seasoned automotive and mobility leader with extensive experience across manufacturing, operations, and business transformation. Currently serving as CEO of Switch Mobility and Chief Operating Officer at Ashok Leyland, he is at the forefront of driving India’s transition toward sustainable and electric mobility solutions.

With a career that spans leading automotive organizations such as Hyundai Motor India and Maruti Suzuki, Mani has built deep expertise across product engineering, manufacturing systems, and large-scale operations. His journey from shop-floor roles to global leadership positions reflects a strong foundation in execution combined with strategic vision. Continue reading “Ganesh Mani S”

Shenu Agarwal is a seasoned automotive leader and the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ashok Leyland, where he is driving the company’s transformation toward future-ready, sustainable mobility solutions. With over two decades of experience across automotive and engineering-led businesses, he brings a strong blend of strategic thinking and execution depth to one of India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturers.

Before taking over the top role, Agarwal built extensive expertise across product strategy, sales, and business leadership, including his tenure at Escorts Kubota, where he led the agri-machinery business and played a key role in organizational transformation. His career reflects a consistent focus on aligning technology, operations, and customer-centric innovation to drive scale and competitiveness. Continue reading “Shenu Agarwal”

Tanuj Pugalia is a dynamic automotive retail leader and the Chairman and Managing Director of Gallops Group, a flagship venture of the Pugalia Group. Based in Ahmedabad, he has been instrumental in transforming Gallops into one of India’s most prominent multi-brand automobile dealership networks, representing global automotive brands such as BMW, MINI, Hyundai, Mahindra, and Tata Commercial Vehicles.

With a strong focus on customer-centricity and operational excellence, Pugalia has led the expansion of the Gallops Group across multiple states, building a robust network of dealerships and service facilities. His leadership reflects a deep understanding of the automotive retail ecosystem, where success is driven not only by sales performance but also by consistent customer experience and aftersales excellence. Continue reading “Tanuj Pugalia”

Gaurav Gupta is a seasoned business leader with over two decades of experience spanning strategy, governance, and industry engagement across India’s evolving mobility and industrial ecosystem. Based in Gurugram, he is known for operating at the intersection of business leadership, policy dialogue, and organizational transformation, bringing a structured and insight-driven approach to complex market environments.

His professional journey reflects a strong focus on board effectiveness, strategic advisory, and cross-industry collaboration. Gupta has actively contributed to thought leadership around governance frameworks, leadership effectiveness, and institutional development, engaging with senior industry leaders and forums to drive meaningful conversations on long-term value creation. Continue reading “Gaurav Gupta”

Sharad Malhotra is a seasoned business leader in the automotive coatings and paints industry, currently serving as Managing Director of Nippon Paint India. With over 15 years of leadership experience within the Nippon Paint ecosystem, he has played a pivotal role in building and scaling multiple high-growth business verticals across automotive refinish, wood coatings, and light industrial paints.

Malhotra’s journey is defined by entrepreneurial execution within a corporate framework. He is widely recognized for establishing Nippon Paint’s automotive refinish business across India and expanding its footprint into international markets including Southeast Asia and the Middle East. His leadership has consistently focused on innovation, market development, and strengthening the aftermarket ecosystem. Continue reading “Sharad Malhotra”

Nishant Arya is a dynamic next-generation business leader and the Vice Chairman and Managing Director of JBM Group, a global Indian conglomerate with a strong presence across automotive systems, electric vehicles, renewable energy, and infrastructure.

Representing the new wave of Indian industrial leadership, he has been instrumental in transforming JBM Group into a future-focused mobility and technology-driven enterprise. Continue reading “Nishant Arya”

Hardeep S. Brar is a seasoned automotive industry leader with over three decades of experience across sales, marketing, and business operations. Known for his strong execution-led approach, he has held leadership roles across leading automotive brands, including BMW Group, Kia India, Volkswagen, and General Motors.

Currently associated with BMW Group India in a senior leadership capacity, Brar plays a critical role in strengthening the brand’s presence in the luxury automotive segment. Continue reading “Hardeep S. Brar”

Anand Mahindra is one of India’s most influential business leaders, serving as the Chairman of Mahindra Group, a diversified conglomerate with a strong presence in automotive, farm equipment, technology, and renewable energy. With decades of leadership experience, he has been instrumental in transforming Mahindra Group into a globally recognized brand known for innovation, resilience, and purpose-driven growth.

Under his leadership, Mahindra & Mahindra emerged as a dominant force in India’s SUV and tractor markets while expanding its footprint across international geographies. Continue reading “Anand Mahindra”

Tarun Garg is a distinguished automotive industry leader with over three decades of experience across sales, marketing, product strategy, and business operations. Currently serving as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Hyundai Motor India, he represents a landmark shift as the first Indian to lead the company since its inception.

Garg’s career reflects deep expertise in building scale and driving market leadership within India’s highly competitive passenger vehicle segment. Before taking over as MD & CEO in 2026, he served as Whole-Time Director and Chief Operating Officer, where he played a critical role in strengthening Hyundai’s sales, marketing, and distribution ecosystem. Continue reading “Tarun Garg”

Vinkesh Gulati is a prominent name in the Indian automotive industry, known for his leadership across auto retail, policy advocacy, and skill development. With over three decades of experience, he has played a pivotal role in shaping India’s automobile dealership ecosystem and strengthening industry-academia collaboration. He currently serves as Chairperson of the Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC), where he leads initiatives focused on building a future-ready workforce aligned with emerging mobility trends such as electric vehicles and advanced diagnostics.

Gulati is also the former President of the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), where he introduced impactful initiatives including dealer satisfaction studies and industry platforms to enhance collaboration and performance. His leadership at FADA positioned him as a key voice in representing dealer interests and influencing automotive policy in India. Continue reading “Vinkesh Gulati”