Maruti Suzuki Appoints Hisashi Takeuchi As MD And CEO From April 1

Maruti Suzuki’s market share has come down to 45% this year from 48% last year. The company is looking to fill gaps in the various sub-segments that have emerged in the SUV space in the past few years

New Delhi: Maruti Suzuki India (MSI), India’s largest automaker, on Thursday named Hisashi Takeuchi as its new managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO), with effect from April 1, 2022.

In a statement, Maruti Suzuki India said that new appointment was due because the incumbent MD and CEO Kenichi Ayukawa’s term ends on March 31.

Ayukawa will continue as a whole-time director designated as executive vice-chairman till September 30, 2022, and will continue to provide guidance to the auto major in order to facilitate a smooth transition, the carmaker said.

Maruti Suzuki also noted that the appointments are subject to shareholders’ approval.

Maruti Suzuki’s market share in nearly 30-lakh-strong (volume) domestic passenger vehicle segment has come down to 45 per cent this year from 48 per cent last year. The company is looking to fill gaps in the various sub-segments that have emerged in the SUV space in the past few years.

Takeuchi, who joined Suzuki Motor Corporation in 1986, has a vast experience in the international operations in the company as well as in overseas markets. He has been on the board of Maruti Suzuki since July 2019 as joint managing director (commercial) since April 2021.

Takeuchi said, “I thank the board of directors for placing this trust in me. Maruti Suzuki is a great organisation with a rich legacy and it will be my endeavour that we keep serving more and more customers both in India and the world, with exciting cars that are good for them, environment and society. We will also try to build our business in a manner that strengthens Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the economic growth of India.”

Ayukawa, who has been the MD and CEO of the company since April 2013, termed his stint as both challenging and fulfilling.

“India is one of the most interesting and promising automobile markets in the world and it has been both a challenging and a fulfilling stint for me. Takeuchi has an excellent understanding of the Indian as well as international markets and is placed well to lead Maruti Suzuki into the future. I wish him a successful journey ahead,” he said.