Mahindra Group has announced a series of senior leadership appointments drawn from within its internal talent pool.
Hemant Sikka, currently serving as President of the Farm Equipment Sector (FES), has been named Managing Director & CEO of Mahindra Logistics Ltd. (MLL), following approval from the MLL Board. The Group expressed strong confidence in MLL’s future, highlighting its significant potential for growth and value creation.
“Hemant is among our most accomplished leaders, known for his strategic vision, operational excellence, customer focus, and people-first leadership style,” the company noted in a statement. Sikka will succeed Ram Swaminathan, the current CEO of MLL, who has chosen to step down to explore new professional opportunities.
Veejay Nakra, currently President of the Automotive Division, will take on the role of President, Farm Equipment Business (FEB)—one of Mahindra’s largest and most profitable segments, boasting a return on capital employed (ROCE) of over 60%.
The Group sees strong growth potential in FEB through tractors, farm machinery, and global expansion. Veejay, who joined Mahindra & Mahindra in 1995, has an impressive track record, having led the turnaround of the Automotive Business through successful product launches, the development of world-class manufacturing capabilities, and shaping the company’s global growth strategy. With his deep experience and leadership acumen, Veejay is well-positioned to steer FEB into its next phase of growth. He will continue to report to Rajesh Jejurikar.
R Velusamy, who is currently, President Automotive Technology and Product Development, will be appointed as President of the Automotive Business (AB). The Automotive Business has seen significant growth and success in all its segments over the last few years. To prepare for a future with technology innovation and lead opportunities for growth in domestic as well as global markets, we will now integrate the SUV and LCV (less than 3.5 tonne) business, under one leader. This would help build greater agility and collaboration, both in engineering our products and taking them to market. The role would have end to end responsibility of all functions within the Auto Business with P&L delivery. Velu joined M&M in 1996 and after successfully creating world class powertrains, he then has been instrumental in the development and successful launch of several ICE flagship products and Mahindra’s Electric Vehicle portfolio. Velu will continue to report to Rajesh Jejurikar.
Dr. Anish Shah, Group CEO & Managing Director, M&M, said, “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. We thank Ram for his contributions to the company, and wish Hemant, Veejay, and Velu the very best for the journey ahead”.
