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”

With over 28+ years in automotive paint refinishing, Vivek Sahai leads  the automotive refinish aftermarket division at AkzoNobel’s Automotive  & Specialty Coatings Business Unit for India and Cluster countries. His  role spans Repairers, OEM partnerships and insurer relationships,  bringing a wealth of experience to the paint and coatings industry.

A science graduate with an MBA, Vivek enhanced his “leadership” credentials through executive certification at IIM Kolkata. His career  journey, starting at Asian Paints and continuing at AkzoNobel, has been  marked by transformative contributions to the industry. Continue reading “Vivek Sahai”

Rajeev Chaba is one of the most experienced leaders in India’s automotive industry, with over three decades of global exposure across sales, marketing, and business transformation. Best known for his leadership at MG Motor India, he played a defining role in establishing the brand in India and shaping its rapid growth trajectory.

As President and Managing Director, and later CEO Emeritus, Chaba led MG Motor India in a startup-like environment, successfully launching multiple products within a short span while positioning the brand around technology, connected mobility, and electric vehicles. His leadership emphasized innovation, diversity, and customer-centric thinking, helping MG emerge as a disruptive force in the Indian automotive market. Continue reading “Rajeev Chaba”

Anurag Mehrotra is a seasoned automotive leader with over three decades of experience spanning sales, marketing, strategy, and business transformation within the Indian mobility ecosystem. Widely recognized for his long association with Ford Motor Company, he played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s India journey, including serving as President and Managing Director of Ford India.

His leadership tenure was marked by a strong focus on customer-centricity, brand positioning, and operational efficiency in a highly competitive market. Mehrotra was instrumental in strengthening Ford’s retail presence, enhancing customer experience frameworks, and aligning global product strategies with Indian market realities. His approach consistently emphasized balancing global brand values with local consumer expectations. Continue reading “Anurag Mehrotra”

Vishal Bhat is an experienced automotive professional with a strong foundation across sales, service, network development, and parts business within the Indian automobile industry. Currently associated with Škoda India, he operates at the core of dealer ecosystem development and aftersales performance, contributing to how the brand is experienced beyond the point of purchase.

His career reflects a deep operational understanding of the automotive value chain, particularly in areas that directly influence customer satisfaction and long-term brand loyalty. By working closely with dealer networks and service infrastructure, Bhat plays a key role in ensuring consistency in execution, availability of parts, and overall service quality across markets. His approach is grounded in aligning backend efficiency with frontline customer experience, a critical factor in today’s competitive automotive landscape. Continue reading “Vishal Bhat”

Nitin Kohli brings over 25 years of experience across India’s mobility ecosystem, spanning tractors, mass-market vehicles, and luxury automobiles. His career reflects a consistent focus on operating at the intersection of brand, product, and customer experience, translating global engineering excellence into narratives that resonate with Indian consumers.

Kohli is focused on shaping the brand’s next phase of growth, anchored in trust, relevance, and long-term value. His approach balances Volkswagen’s global DNA with the evolving expectations of the Indian market, ensuring that brand positioning remains both authentic and adaptive. Continue reading “Nitin Kohli”

Ashish Gupta is a senior automotive industry professional who operates at the intersection of sales, marketing, dealer network development, and aftersales strategy within Škoda India. Based in Mumbai, he currently leads multiple critical business verticals, including revenue generation, customer lifecycle management, and network expansion, positioning him as a key contributor to the brand’s growth trajectory in the Indian market.

With a mandate that spans end-to-end commercial operations, Ashish plays a central role in aligning market demand with dealer performance and customer experience. His work involves not just driving sales numbers but building a sustainable ecosystem that integrates dealership networks, aftersales service quality, and brand consistency across touchpoints. This holistic approach reflects a deep understanding of how automotive success in India depends on both product appeal and execution excellence at the ground level. Continue reading “Ashish Gupta”

Bishwajeet Samal is a seasoned marketing leader with over two decades of experience across media, telecom, and automotive sectors. Currently serving as the Head of Marketing and Public Relations at Volkswagen India, he is responsible for shaping the brand’s positioning, communication strategy, and public narrative in a highly competitive market. His role involves aligning Volkswagen’s global identity with evolving Indian consumer expectations through integrated marketing and storytelling.

A significant part of his career has been spent within the Volkswagen Group, including a tenure at its global headquarters in Germany, where he led campaigns and media strategy at an international level. This global exposure enabled him to develop a structured, insight-driven approach to brand building, combining consistency with adaptability across markets. Continue reading “Bishwajeet Samal”

Anuj Guglani, is the powerhouse behind the World Auto Forum (WAF) — The global media house and think tank of the Auto & Mobility Industry for several decades now!
WAF is No. 1 in World Auto News as per online searches and surveys. In 2025, WAF Newswires were consumed by 85 Million+ users across the world.

In the past, he has been invited as a speaker to IIT Delhi, SIAM, University of Delhi, FADA, ASSOCHAM, AIAWA, the International Zinc Association ( IZA), ASPA, Engineering College Bhopal, Bhopal, GM Australia and WAF. He has carried out industry outreach programs with Niti Aayog, Dept of Science & Tech (DST), Meta, Uber, Renault, Hyundai, Skoda, Mitsubishi, Castrol, Exxon Mobil, NASSCOM, SMBC Nikko and many others. Continue reading “Anuj Guglani”

Pankaj Narula is a distinguished automotive industry leader with a rich legacy of driving customer-centric transformation and operational excellence. An academic achiever, he holds a degree in Physics from University of Delhi and an engineering qualification from King’s College London.

Over the course of his illustrious career, he has been associated with globally reputed organizations including British Aircraft Corporation, Schlumberger, Thorn EMI, British Leyland (Austin Morris Ltd.), and Maruti Suzuki India. Continue reading “Pankaj Narula”

Muralidharan Sridharan is a highly respected automotive industry veteran, currently serving as Chairman – Mobility Aftermarket and a prominent mentor to emerging ventures in the mobility ecosystem. With a career spanning decades, he has built a reputation for driving transformation across aftermarket businesses, distribution networks, and next-generation mobility solutions.

He has held several marquee leadership positions, including President of Lucas Indian Service (TVS Group), Regional President and Board Member at Bosch India, and Executive Director at Frost & Sullivan. Across these roles, he has demonstrated deep expertise in scaling organizations, strengthening supply chains, and leading high-performance teams. Continue reading “Muralidharan Sridharan”

Nikhil B, Managing Director of Madhus Garage Equipment, represents the third generation of a legacy that has shaped India’s automotive service ecosystem. Beginning his journey at just 15 as a hands-on tyre shop technician, Nikhil built his foundation on the shop floor—learning the nuances of alignment, balancing, and customer service from the ground up.

After completing his engineering degree and an MBA, he joined the business full-time, gaining extensive on-ground exposure across markets in India before transitioning into leadership. Today, as Managing Director, he combines traditional values with a modern, systems-driven approach to scale the organisation forward. Continue reading “Nikhil B”

Manish Vij, Founder & CEO of Global Assure, is a seasoned business leader with over two decades of experience across the financial services and insurance sectors. A Chartered Accountant by profession and an alumnus of IIM Lucknow, he brings a strong blend of financial acumen and strategic leadership to the table.

Over the course of his career, Manish has held key leadership roles spanning finance, operations, and risk management, with full P&L accountability. His deep understanding of business fundamentals and execution has enabled him to consistently drive growth and operational excellence across organizations. Continue reading “Manish Vij”

A post-graduate in Business Administration from SP Jain Institute of Management & Research (Class of 2002), Amar began building Group Shaman at the age of 19, guided and inspired by his father, Mr. Jatin Sheth. What started from the ground up has today grown into one of Mumbai’s most respected automobile retail groups.

Shaman is now a leading brand in automobile dealerships for Honda cars, Volkswagen & the British icon Triumph Motorcycles in Mumbai.

The group also provides Mobility & Car Rental Solutions through its venture, Shaman Mobility. It also runs a PreOwned Car division that caters to a diverse customer base across the city, offering products from all makes and models. Continue reading “Amar Jatin Sheth”

Dr. Kumar Iyer is a seasoned business leader with nearly three decades of experience in the coatings, adhesives, and specialty chemicals industry. He is currently serving as Chief Business Officer – Automotive & Specialty Coatings at JSW Dulux Limited (formerly AkzoNobel India Limited – Dulux Paint), where he leads growth across automotive, vehicle refinish, and specialty coatings segments.

Prior to this, he served as Regional Commercial Director for the Automotive & Specialty Coatings business across Southeast and South Asia, including ANZ, where he led regional strategy and business expansion. He also held the position of Senior Vice President – Industrial Business (Adhesives & Sealants) at Pidilite Industries Limited, driving growth and profitability across key industrial segments.

Continue reading “Dr. Kumar Iyer”