VIKRAM KASBEKAR TO BE THE NEW CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER
RAJAT BHARGAVA TO HEAD NEWLY CREATED ‘EMERGING MOBILITY’ BUSINESS UNIT
In keeping with its commitment to stay ahead of the emerging mobility trends, Hero MotoCorp – the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer – today revamped its Leadership Team.
As part of this process, Hero MotoCorp has assigned the role of the Chief Technology Officer to Vikram Kasbekar, while Rajat Bhargava has been given the responsibility to head the newly created ‘Emerging Mobility’ Business Unit. Both Vikram and Rajat will continue to report to Dr. Pawan Munjal, Chairman, Hero MotoCorp.
Rajat currently heads Corporate Strategy & Performance Transformation and is also Head of Global Business.
Vikram, currently the Executive Director – Operations (Plants) at Hero MotoCorp, will be in-charge of the Company’s world-class Research and Development facilities – the Centre of Innovation and Technology – at the northern Indian city of Jaipur and the Hero Tech Centre Germany GmbH. He will replace Markus Braunsperger, who will be relocating to Europe after the completion of his five-year tenure.
Markus, who led CIT from its days of inception, has been credited with giving shape to the research and development set-up at Hero MotoCorp, forming a global team of engineers and automotive experts drawn from different parts of the world. Under the leadership of Markus, Hero successfully launched close to 40 new models and variants including a series of premium two-wheelers, including the XPulse range motorcycles, the Destini 125 and Maestro Edge 125 scooters.
He also led the Company to a smooth transition from BS-III to BS-IV earlier and to BS-VI now, as Hero MotoCorp became the first manufacturer in India to receive the BS-VI certification for a two-wheeler from the International Centre for Automotive Technology. He also played a key role in setting up Hero Tech Centre Germany and giving Hero MotoSports a major boost.
Vikram, who has been with Hero MotoCorp for over a decade and half, brings years of varied technology and engineering experience in manufacturing and large-scale plant operations, Supply Chain and New Model Development.
A process has already been initiated to identify a suitable candidate to be in line to take over as CTO in due course.
Hero MotoCorp has created the ‘Emerging Mobility’ Business Unit to give an impetus to new mobility trends such as Electric Vehicles.