Leadership changes ensure that “we have strong, proven leaders at the helm of our key businesses.”
| Photo Credit:
ANUSHREE FADNAVIS

In a major rejig in its top leadership the Mahindra Group has appointed Farm Equipment sector head Hemant Sikka as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mahindra Logistics (MLL), whose current CEO Ram Swaminathan is stepping down to pursue other professional interests.

Veejay Nakra, currently the president of the automotive division, will take over from Sikka as the President of Farm Equipment business, while R Velusamy, who is currently President Automotive Technology and Product Development, will be appointed as President of the Automotive Business.

Nakra and Velu will continue to report to Rajesh Jejurikar, who is Executive Director and CEO (Auto and Farm Sector) at M&M.

The group has also decided to integrate sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and light commercial vehicles weighing less than 3.5 tonnes under one leader, to prepare for a future with technology innovation and opportunities for growth in domestic as well as global markets.

“These leadership changes ensure that we have strong, proven leaders at the helm of our key businesses. Their experience will enable us to drive significant growth and create greater value for our customers and shareholders,” said Anish Shah, Group CEO & Managing Director.

Focus on logistics, tractors and automotive

On Sikka being moved to Mahindra Logistics, the company said, “We believe that MLL has tremendous potential for growth and value creation and are committed to realising this potential. Hemant is one of our top leaders and brings with him a powerful combination of strategic skills, operational rigor,customer centricity and people leadership capabilities.

The farm equipment business makes and sells tractors and is one of its large and profitable businesses, with a return on capital employed of over 60 per cent. “There is a huge opportunity for us to grow the business profitably through tractors, farm machinery and globalisation,” it said, adding that Nakra, who joined M&M in 1995, has a strong proven track record of creating a turnaround of the Auto Business with successful launches, while building world class manufacturing capability, along with shaping the growth strategy for its international businesses. “He is very well poised to lead FEB into the future.”

Velu has been instrumental in the development and successful launch of several ICE flagship products and Mahindra’s Electric Vehicle portfolio, the statement said. “The automotive business has seen significant growth and success in all its segments over the last few years.” The integratation of SUV and small LCVs under one leader would help build greater agility and collaboration, both in engineering its products and taking them to market. The role would have end to end responsibility of all functions within the Auto Business with profit and loss delivery, it said.

Velu is another veteran in M&M having joined in 1996, and credited with successfully creating world class powertrains.

Published on April 21, 2025