Hero MotoCorp's Niranjan Gupta steps down as CEO, Vikram Kasbekar appointed acting CEO

Hero MotoCorp on Friday announced that Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Niranjan Gupta will step down from his post. Vikram Kasbekar, Executive Director (Operations) has been appointed the Acting Chief Executive Officer with effect from May 1, 2025.

“Niranjan Gupta has decided to pursue other opportunities and is stepping down from his role as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. His last working day will be April 30, 2025. Vikram Kasbekar, Executive Director (Operations) has been appointed the Acting Chief Executive Officer with effect from May 1, 2025,” said the company.

Dr. Pawan Munjal, Executive Chairman said: “Since joining Hero in 2017, Niranjan has strengthened our financial resilience, forged global alliances and laid the foundation for the House of Strategy that defines our future growth journey. His leadership has been pivotal in steering the company towards new frontiers. I wish him the very best and all the success for his future. Vikram Kasbekar will assume the role of Acting Chief Executive Officer. An industry veteran with experience spanning Research & Development, Operations, Supply Chain, and Engineering, Vikram will guide the organization and leadership through this transition until a new CEO is appointed.”

“Advancing the organization's philosophy of fostering and promoting internal talent, we have also announced the elevation of Ram, Ashutosh and Jyoti to expanded roles. They will lead the respective functions to accelerate the company’s future growth strategy. “Committed to our vision of sustainable innovation, our EV & Emerging Mobility Business Unit (EMBU) will transition into a fully independent & empowered unit, effective February 1, 2025, leading the EV revolution and next‐generation mobility.”

Niranjan Gupta said,"Being part of Hero MotoCorp’s journey has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I am grateful to Dr. Munjal & the Board of Directors for the privilege of i ; Hero Press Release Page 2 of 3 leading this remarkable company. During my eight years at Hero, I have had the opportunity to work with an exceptional team and contribute to the company’s continued success. As I move on to pursue other opportunities, I extend my best wishes to the entire team at Hero MotoCorp for an optimistic and progressive future.”

Vikram Kasbekar said “I am honored to take on the responsibility as the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Hero MotoCorp. Having been a part of this incredible organization for over two decades, I look forward to working closely with our talented team to drive continued growth and innovation. I deeply appreciate the trust placed in me by Dr. Munjal & the Board of Directors; and remain committed to steering the company forward during this transition period. Together, we will build on our strong legacy and keep delivering excellence to all our customers, partners and stakeholders.”

Ram Kuppuswamy, Chief Procurement Officer, will assume an expanded role of Chief Operations Officer (COO) – Manufacturing, effective April 1, 2025, overseeing all plant operations and the quality function to deliver world-class operational and manufacturing excellence. Over the past three years, Ram has transformed procurement into an agile, efficient, and future-ready function. In his new role, Ram will strategically review and optimize the manufacturing and supplier footprint to align with the company’s evolving business and growth strategy.

Ashutosh Varma, National Sales Head – India Business Unit (IBU) is being elevated as the Chief Business Officer (CBO) – IBU effective May 1, 2025, in recognition of his exceptional leadership and track record of driving transformative results over his fifteen year tenure at the company. With a strong focus on innovation and strategic execution, he will lead IBU’s restructuring to accelerate growth and expand market leadership. Ashutosh will take over from Ranjivjit Singh, who will be completing his tenure with the company on April 30, 2025.

Jyoti Singh, Head HR – R&D, will step into the expanded role of Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer effective February 1, 2025, to drive a comprehensive people agenda that further strengthens & elevates our brand. She will play a pivotal role in positioning Hero MotoCorp as a global employer of choice, attracting top talent and fostering an environment that thrives on diversity, collaboration, and continuous growth.

The EV & Emerging Mobility Business Unit (EMBU) will transition to a fully independent & empowered unit, effective February 1, 2025, leading the EV revolution and nextgeneration mobility under the mentorship of the Executive Chairman, Dr. Pawan Munjal.