Celebrating the journey of Sanjeev Handa: A life in communications, brands and leadership

On his birthday, it is an occasion to celebrate not just another milestone year, but an extraordinary professional journey defined by leadership, strategic vision, and an enduring contribution to India’s corporate communications and marketing landscape.

Sanjeev Handa, Senior Vice President and Head of PR & Communications at Maruti Suzuki India Limited, has built a career spanning over three decades across media, advertising, and the automobile industry—each phase adding depth to his understanding of brands, audiences, and storytelling.

At Maruti Suzuki, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s communications architecture, leading corporate communications, stakeholder engagement, digital outreach, and reputation management strategies for one of India’s most trusted and influential brands. His work reflects a rare blend of strategic foresight and operational clarity, helping the organisation navigate an increasingly complex media and public discourse environment.

Before taking charge of corporate communications, Handa led key marketing verticals within Maruti Suzuki, overseeing NEXA and True Value retail marketing, product planning, brand strategy, market research, digital transformation, and omni-channel marketing initiatives. His leadership contributed significantly to strengthening the company’s market leadership while setting benchmarks for the automotive industry.

Earlier in his career, he managed some of Maruti Suzuki’s most iconic “power brands,” including Swift and DZire, shaping their positioning through consumer insight-led communication strategies. His professional foundation was built across leading global advertising networks such as J. Walter Thompson, McCann Worldgroup, and TBWA\Worldwide, alongside stints in media organisations including India Today and NDTV—experiences that gave him a holistic perspective on communication ecosystems.

Over the years, Sanjeev Handa’s journey has mirrored the evolution of Indian marketing and communications itself—from traditional advertising to integrated brand storytelling and reputation-led leadership.